A review on the policy that makes suicide attempts in the nation illegal has been promised by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

He made the pledge in response to a delegation from the Asido Foundation, a non-governmental organization that supports reforms and advocacy for mental health.

The Special Adviser to the President on Communications and Publicity, Office of the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele, revealed this in a statement that was made accessible to reporters in Abuja on Sunday.

The AGF claims that one of President Bola Tinubu’s top priorities throughout his government was health.

“The law is something we have to take a second look at, especially where it is established that the offenders are not in the right state of mind. What the offenders need is pity, treatment and love, to rid society of this kind of situation.

“But whatever we do is not binding on the states. So, I will take the case to the Body of Attorneys General,” Fagbemi said.

In the Federal Ministry of Health, he promised to address the concerns regarding the Mental Health Act with his colleagues.

Prior to the implementation of the Mental Health Act, which former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law in January 2023, and the revision of the laws sentencing individuals for attempted suicide, Dr. Jibril Abdulmalik, the creator of Asido, requested assistance from the AGF.

According to medical data, 80–90% of those who attempt suicide globally have a history of mental illness, particularly depression, according to Abdulmalik.

They reach a point when they believe it would be better for them to die due to a sense of hopelessness.

“It is because of a sense of hopelessness that makes them get to the edge where they think they are better off dying.

“In that situation what they need is help and treatment, not punishment and incarceration. We know the workload is heavy for our judicial officers…We don’t want them overburdened with cases that should ordinarily go to the hospitals,” he added.