By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA -The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Thursday, called for an urgent review of the amended 1999 constitution and electoral laws in the country, stressing that for a variety of reasons, they had failed to meet the yearning and aspirations of Nigerians.

The legal body, which made the declaration while briefing newsmen in Abuja,  said it had specifically mandated an 11-man constitutional review/alteration committee to seek out the grey areas of the current constitution that would require immediate amendment.

The committee, which comprises five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, will be co-chaired by two former NBA Presidents, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.

The committee was given six weeks to submit its report, as well as produce a draft amended constitution graphically highlighting the proposed areas for amendment.

According to NBA boss, it is now apparent that the fundamental law of the land from which all other legislations (federal and state) take their authority for a variety of reasons cannot meet the yearning and aspirations of the great Nigerian people. One of your duties is to find a lasting solution to this problem.

”The term of reference is very simple and direct. You are to use your knowledge, skill and experience to come up with appropriate amendments to the constitution.”

In his response, the chairman of the committee, Agbakoba, SAN, flayed the idea of convening a national sovereign conference, saying it would not proffer a lasting solution to myriads of problems confronting the nation.

On the issue of cleansing the judiciary, Agbakoba maintained that, “If my committee discovers that there is need for an amendment of the constitution regarding the composition of the National Judicial Council, NJC, so that better judges could be produced, we will accordingly make the suggestion.”