Ekiti to translate laws into Yoruba language, Amotekun inclusive ― Fapohunda

Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for justice, Olawale Fapohunda has hinted that his ministry will immediately commence the translation of the Laws of Ekiti State into the Yoruba Language.

The Attorney General who made this disclosure on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti said the state governor, Kayode Fayemi has approved the translation of Laws of Ekiti State into the Yoruba Language.

According to him, this was in furtherance of the commitment of the Fayemi administration to its citizens’ active participation in governance.

Fapohunda further stated that “given the volume of the Laws of Ekiti State, the translation will be implemented in phases. The first phase will include laws that have a direct impact on the daily reality of our people”.

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Some of the Laws that will be translated immediately will include: the Sustainable Development Goals Law, Ekiti State (2019), Ekiti State Property Protection ( Anti-Land Grabbing ) Law (2019), Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence  (Prohibition) Law (2019), and Ekiti State (Transition) Law (2019).

On whether the proposed Amotekun Bill will be translated into Yoruba after the governor’s assent, Fapohunda said: “The Ekiti State Security Network Agency Bill affects the daily lives of the people of Ekiti State, especially those in our rural communities, it, therefore, follows that this is one legislation that all of our people need to understand”

On how the Laws will be translated, the Attorney – General said: “there are many qualified academics in the Ekiti State University, who are specialised in the Yoruba language, we will work with them”.

Fapohunda also revealed that some of the policy documents of the state’s Ministry of Justice, like the Ekiti State Charter for Victims of Crime; Directive on Non-discontinuance of Criminal Matters, Additional Measures in aid of Prosecution of Sexual Violence will also be translated into the Yoruba language.

The Permanent Secretary, Ekiti Ministry of Justice and Solicitor-General, Lawrence Ojo while commenting on this development said the state’s Ministry of Justice would be recording another novel move. According to him,  there had been talks over the years, especially in lawyers conferences and meetings on the need to translate laws into local Nigerian languages but little progress has been made about it.

Ojo added that “with Ekiti State breaking the ice, it is envisaged that more states will follow suit”