Five Years After Passage: Governor Emmanuel Assents Administration of Criminal Justice Law
…As AG assures Review, Gazette of Old Laws
By Ekemini Simon
After five years of passage into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has finally assented to the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Akwa Ibom State.
The law, a prototype of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 (ACJA) was a private member bill sponsored by member representing Etinan state constituency, Aniefiok Dennis, and passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in March 2017.
The law repeals the erstwhile Criminal Procedure Act as applied in the South and the Criminal Procedure (Northern states) Act, which applied in the North and the Administration of Justice Commission Act.
Briefing newsmen on Friday, the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uko Udom said the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel assented to the law on May 17, 2022.
State Attorney General briefing the press.
He said by the enactment of Criminal Justice Law, 2022, Akwa Ibom State has joined a community of States determined to introduce reforms in administration of justice to the benefit of the people.
The AG listed the highlights of the law to include opportunity given to women to stand surety, establishment of monitoring committee, electronic recording of criminal proceedings, quarterly reports of arrest by the Attorney-General, prosecution of offenses, among others.
Mr Udom said the purpose of the law is to ensure that the system of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crime and protection of the rights and interests of the suspect, the defendant, and the victim.
He added “This all important law, which will soon find application by our courts and other stakeholders in the criminal justice system, is a bold step in filling the gaps that were noticeable in our laws which this present law has repealed.”
The Attorney General who said the law is already with the government printer and would be available for sale starting May 22 hinted that the review of the general laws which were undertaken over 20 years ago is nearing completion.
He said ” All the laws that have been passed and are pending are going to be signed in two to three weeks. They are all ready. The only thing slowing it down is the political season.
“All the laws of Akwa Ibom State will be published and made available for sale. This is done every 10 years.”
Responding, the Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, Uyo Branch, Mr. Ememobong Udoh thanked the State Executive for giving assent to the law.
“We had met with the AG over the law and he had promised that the law would be signed. Same with the governor, when we met him in December, we tabled our concerns on the need to give assent to the law. He directed that the Attorney General will work out things. Today we have the law hence we say thank you.
The NBA Chairman called on the executive to give accelerated treatment to the Customary Court of Appeal, law.
In their respective remarks, a Senior lawyer, Ekpa Ekpa and a Senior Lecturer in jurisprudence, Francis Ekwere commended the State Executive for finally giving assent to the law noting that further delay would have necessitated a protest from lawyers.