Bauchi State House of Assembly has passed a bill on administration of criminal justice into law in the state, noting that the worsening spate of insecurity currently being experienced in Nigeria is attributed to the poor administration of justice.
The assertion was made by the House Committee on Justice and Judiciary while presenting its report on a Bill for a law to provide for administration of criminal justice in the courts of Bauchi State and for related matters 2022 which was laid by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bello Muazu Shira representing Shira Constituency.
In the report which was presented during plenary on Wednesday, the Committee explained that it has engaged stakeholders of the administration of justice in Bauchi State to support and facilitate a critical review of the Bill with a view to dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s as well as enhance the knowledge of the Committee on the need to review the 2018 administration of criminal justice law.
The Committee observed that the 2018 Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the State remained impossible to be implemented for quite some time due to numerous existing gaps and flaws that characterized the Law, thus the reality necessitated the dire need to review and amend the Law.
According to the Committee, it has worked in collaboration with the stakeholders and the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative knowns as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) for in-depth and comprehensive review of the Bill in which they discovered many drafting errors, duplicate provisions and cross-referencing gaps in several sections of the Bill which are likely to cause controversies and legal complications during the implementation of the Law.
The Committee further observed that the reviewed law will meet the realities associated with the administration of justice generally and many provisions omitted in the 2018 Administration of Criminal Justice Law were incorporated in the Bill to make it conform with international standards.
Some of the provisions included will enhance the quick dispensation of justice such as Sections 47, 51, 52, 304,322 and 442.
It, therefore, urged the House to adopt the recommendations and pass the Bill into law and the House unanimously adopted the recommendations of the Committee.
Therefore, the Committee recommended that the Chief Judge of the State be advised to designate a special court with Judges to handle all sexual and gender-based violence cases in the State with a view to ensuring accelerated hearing of the cases, protecting the integrity of victims, guaranteeing diligent prosecution and secure punishment for offenders.
It further recommended that the Magistrate Court of the First Grade be given the jurisdiction to try rape cases as it will assist in quick dispensation of justice on the sexual and gender-based violence-related cases.
Majority Leader of the House, Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu representing Azare/Madangala Constituency requested the House to allow a Bill for a Law to Provide for Administration of Criminal Justice in the Courts of Bauchi State and for Related Matters 2022 to be read for the third time and he was seconded by the Minority Leader, Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo representing Chiroma Constituency.
After the members approved the motion, the Speaker, Abubakar Y Suleiman asked the Clerk of the House, Umar Yusuf Gital Esq to carry out the 3rd reading.
Also during the plenary, Majority Leader, Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu requested the House to allow a Bill for a Law to establish Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission to undergo 1st reading and he was seconded by the Minority Leader, Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo.
Upon approval by the Members, Speaker Abubakar Suleiman directed the Clerk of the House, Umar Yusuf Gital Esq to carry out the 1st reading.