Alkali rejects Tinubu’s Law Reform Commission appointment

By KEMI KASUMU

Adegbonmire told the Senate that Alkali, who was nominated to represent the North-East region, communicated her decision directly to the Presidency.

One of the nominees, whose names were recently transmitted to the Nigerian Senate for approval as commissioners at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), Professor Fatima Alkali, has turned down the presidential offer.

Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, made this known during presentation of the committee’s report at the upper changer’s plenary on Tuesday July 1, 2025.

Adegbonmire told the Senate that Alkali, who was nominated to represent the North-East region, communicated her decision directly to the Presidency.

“The committee requested for, and received the curriculum vitae and other supporting documents of the nominees and invited them to appear before it for a screening exercise,” Adegbonmire said.

“On Wednesday, 25th June 2025, two of the nominees appeared before the committee. The third one, Professor Fatima Alkali, turned down the appointment.”

In view of Alkali’s decision, the committee recommended that she be replaced by another female nominee from the North-East to ensure gender fairness.

The other two nominees — Dakas C.J. Dakas, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the North-Central, and Okolocha from the South-South — were successfully screened and cleared by the committee.

“The nominees possess the requisite qualifications, leadership qualities and comportment to discharge the statutory duties and functions of the offices of chairman and commissioner of the commission,” Adegbonmire said.

“The committee is satisfied about their qualifications, experience, suitability, competence and integrity to assume the position of the chairman and full-time commissioner of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission.”

He added that the committee did not receive any petitions or adverse reports against any of the nominees.

Following the presentation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the confirmation of the two nominees to a voice vote, and they were unanimously approved by the Senate.

Professor Alkali, a distinguished scholar in International Humanitarian Law, currently lectures at Nile University, Abuja. With over 19 years of teaching experience across three Nigerian universities, she has earned a respected reputation in legal academia.

The Nigerian Law Reform Commission, established in July 1979 under the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act, Cap N118, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, works closely with the Attorney General of the Federation to advise on legal reforms, review existing laws, and secure funding to fulfill its mandate.