By John Ernest
In a bit to enhance criminal justice in Akwa Ibom State and to repealed the criminal procedure law CAP 89 law of Akwa Ibom State 2000 which has been in use for over seventy years without being amended, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed into law a bill for law to make provisions for the Administration of Criminal Justice and other related matters in the courts of Akwa Ibom State.
The law, will provide a legal framework towards curtailing illegal, unwarranted arrests, harassment and detentions of Akwa Ibom citizens by the security operatives as well as seeks to provide a speedy dispensation of justice to accused persons in the state.
Sponsored by Hon. Barr. Aniefiok Dennis, the member representing Etinan State Constituency, has twelve other lawmakers a co-sponsors and the law has 23rd March, 2017 as commencement date.
After passing the bill into law, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, said the making of the law was “engendered by the need to harmonize the administration of criminal justice in Akwa Ibom State with other States in the Federation and in line with international best practices in criminal jurisprudence and the enormous benefits which our state stands to gain.”
He said other advantages of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law include the “enhancement of the uniformed and speedy disposal of criminal cases in our courts and also ensure effective management of the criminal justice institutions.”
Adding that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law is “evenhanded”, noting that the law, on the one hand, provides for the protection of our society from crime and criminality, and on the other hand, makes provision to protect the rights and interest of defendants standing trial or awaiting trial.
The Speaker reiterated the assembly’s commitment to making “effective laws”, a commitment which he described as “a fundamental priority”.
“with the dedication, legislative skills and intellectual capacity of this Assembly, the unparallel dedication of our staff and the cordial relationship with the executive and judicial arms of government, I can safely say that we have all it takes to remain one of Nigeria’s finest and most performing legislatures.
I assure you that, with God, and your cooperation, we will stop at nothing to perform our legislative duties even more.” He said.
On his part, Chairman of the committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions, Hon. Aniefiok Denis, member representing Etinan State Constituency, noted that the law sets a uniformed procedure and guidelines for criminal trial and sentencing.
According to him, the Akwa Ibom State Criminal Justice Law provides for Plea bargain, licensed bondsperson, process service agents, suspended sentence, non-custodial orders, suspended and community service which are proactive, innovative and novel legal mechanisms to enhance prompt and speedy dispensation of criminal justice as practised in advanced legal climes.
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