RSG Moves To Review Customary Laws

A committee has been set up to review and produce an all encompassing Customary Court laws and its arbitration in Rivers State

Inaugurating the Committee, recently the President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Peter Agumagu stated that the committee would review the existing Rivers State Customary Laws Cap 40, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999 Vol.2 as amended by the Customary Court amendment law No 1 law No 9 of 2009 to bring them in line with current trends.

Justice Agumagu disclosed that the committee is also expected to come up with a comprehensive review to effect necessary amendments in some areas of the law that were either omitted or deliberately excluded.

He urged the members of the committee to utilise their immense intellectual capabilities and wealth of experience to enable them conduct extensive research so as to come up with better laws that  would strengthen customary laws and foster its growth and acceptance in the future.

According to him “there is every need for the laws to be reviewed as States like Edo, Delta and Imo had long reviewed theirs and revision of the laws will make our Courts work better, their jurisdictions wider and a new form of jurisprudence will emerge.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Justice Achor Ogbonna (Rtd) thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their commitment not to disappoint him in the delivery of the task assigned to them.

Others members of the committee include Mrs Rosemary Ibanibo secretary, Patrick Ukposi Esq. (President Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Chapter) and Mrs Eucharia Pepple(Chairperson FIDA).