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. 

 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. 

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. 

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. 

 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.

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.