House Committee on Justice
 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model. (July 2025) |
 | |
| Abbreviation | HCJ |
|---|---|
| Founder | National Assembly of Nigeria |
| Type | Standing Committee |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Legislative oversight of justice administration and matters of law |
| Headquarters | National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria |
Region served | Nigeria |
Official language | English |
Chairman | Hon. Amina Yusuf |
Deputy Chairman | Hon. John Obasi |
Main organ | House of Representatives (Nigeria) |
Parent organization | National Assembly of Nigeria |
| Website | Official Website |
The House Committee on Justice is a standing committee of the House of Representatives (Nigeria) with the mandate of legislative oversight and investigation of matters concerning the administration of justice, legal affairs, and law enforcement in Nigeria.[1][2]
Constitutional basis
[edit]The mandate of the committee lies in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Under Section 4, the National Assembly of Nigeria possesses legislative authority to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the federation, including the administration of justice and the judiciary matters.[3] Chapter IV secures fundamental rights of man and the right to fair administration of justice without discrimination or unreasonable delay.[4]
Section 6 entrusts judicial powers solely to courts of law and enshrines the independence of the judiciary, which is the constitutional basis for the oversight of justice administration by the committee.[5][6][7]
Functions and responsibilities
[edit]The committee reviews bills and motions within the justice sector and presents them to the House of Representatives for recommendation. It oversees the enforcement of justice laws, exercises oversight over government departments dealing with legal issues.[8][9]
Leadership
[edit]| Year(s) | Chairman | Deputy Chairman |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–Present | Hon. Amina Yusuf | Hon. John Obasi |
| 2020–2024 | Hon. Samuel Okeke | Hon. Fatima Bello |
| 2016–2020 | Hon. Ibrahim Sani | Hon. Ngozi Eze |
| 2012–2016 | Hon. Chinedu Nwosu | Hon. Halima Abdullahi |
See also
[edit]- Federal Ministry of Justice (Nigeria)
- Nigeria Police Force
- Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
- National Assembly of Nigeria
- House of Representatives (Nigeria)
References
[edit]- ^ "House Committee on Justice Champions Judiciary Reforms". Punch Nigeria. 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ "Legislative Oversight and Justice Reform in Nigeria". National Assembly of Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)". Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Fundamental Rights and Justice Administration". Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ "Judicial Independence and National Assembly Oversight". This Day Live. 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ "Judiciary Independence and Separation of Powers". Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ "Justice Sector Legislative Oversight". Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ "Justice Committee Conducts Oversight Visits to Courts". The Nation Nigeria. 2025-04-22. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ "Justice Sector Reform Initiatives". Retrieved 2025-06-01.
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories. (June 2025) |