Two Critical Bills Pass through Second reading in Bayelsa
By Inegbagha Majesty
Two critical Bills have passed second reading
on Tuesday Plenary Session at the floor of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly
in the core of the Niger Delta region.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Abraham Ingobere |
The Bills are “Violence Against Persons (Prohibition)
Bill (BYSHA/6 B.03), 2019 and the “Customary Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill
(BYSHA/6 B.15), 2020.
Leading debate on the Violence Against Persons
(Prohibition) Bill, the sponsor of the bill and member representing Ekeremor Constituency
I, Hon (Barrister) Tare Porri, said the bill when passes through seek to
eliminate violence against persons in private and public places in society.
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Hon (Barrister) Tare Porri |
Hon Tare further explained while emphasizing
the need for support and speedy passage of the bill, said it will protect the
society from crime, tackle the issues of rape and other offences such as battery
and child abuse among others. He added that the bill would also enhance
quick dispensation of justice.
Also in his debate in favour of the Bill, the
immediate past Speaker who is the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Monday Bubou
Edwin Obolo who is representing Southern Ijaw Constituency II, noted that the
bill will provide protection against domestic and electoral violence and bring
highly placed politicians into justice if engage in any crime.
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Rt. Hon. Monday Bubou Edwin Obolo |
Rt. Hon Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, member
representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency I, on his part lamented the rising
cases of rape and violence against women and children, and called for
establishment of special court to deal with the various offences listed in the
bill.
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Rt. Hon Tonye Emmanuel Isenah |
Also, the member representing Ogbia
Constituency I, Hon (High Chief) Mitema Obordor while speaking in favour of the
Bill, blamed the incessant cases of violence as contained in the bill as a result
of the inability of the Executive Arm of the Government to enforce the laws.
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Hon (High Chief) Mitema Obordor |
Hon Oborder stated emphatically that he
supported the bill with mix feelings, noting that the content of the bill has
existing laws to punish offenders, but he regretted that those saddled with the
power to enforce the laws turn to the other sides.
The lawmaker appealed to those saddled with
the responsibility to enforce criminal laws of the nation to live up to
expectation to make the society a good place for habitation in peace and
progressive.
High Chief Obordor who was a former Deputy Leader
of the House enjoined the various Churches in the country to revive the moral
standard exhibited in society before this time to curb rampant cases of rape reports.
He warned against stigmatization of rape victims
and advised community leaders to embrace, strengthened and implements the
existing moral laws regarding to punishing rape perpetrators and not to stigmatize
rape victims who are innocent.
The Chief Whip of the House, Hon (Mrs.)
Ebiuwou, Koku Obiyai, member representing Yenagoa Constituency II also spoke in favour Bill.
The Speaker,
Rt Hon Abraham Ingobere committed the bill to the House Committees on Justice
and Judiciary as well as Gender to report back to the house in two weeks.
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Hon (Mrs.) Ebiuwou, Koku Obiyai |
Also, Leading debate on the second bill
titled “Customary Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill (BYSHA/6 B.15), 2020, Leader
of the House, Rt. Hon. Monday Bubou Edwin Obolo, said the primary aim of the
bill was to amend three sections of the bill to end abuse of Court procedures.
He noted that the bill when passed will
create efficiency and enabling atmosphere for the President of the Court of
Appeal to discharge his statutory functions devoid of conflicting issues.
Others who spoke in favour of the bill
include Hon (High Chief) Mitema Obordor, member representing Ogbia constituency
I and Hon. (Barr.) Tare Porri, member representing Ekeremor Constituency I.
The bill is committed by the Speaker to the House
Committee on Justice and Judiciary to report back to the House in 4 weeks.
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