RVHA Defers Debate On Customary Court Bill

The Rivers State House of Assembly last Wednesday debated the repackaged Customary Courts Amendment Bill that was previously rejected for structural defects.

Opening debate on the bill, the lawmaker representing Akuku-Toru Constituency I, Hon. Onari Brown said the repackaged draft law had provided clauses that would enhance justice delivery at the grassroots.

He argued that chieftaincy issues and disputes arising from traditional marriages were better handled by the customary courts that understood the customs and traditions of the people.

The lawmaker, however, criticised the mandatory inclusion of all members of the Customary Court being lawyers, adding that within each locality there were persons knowledgeable in traditional  issues and customs.

Hon. Brown, therefore, suggested that non-lawyers with competent knowledge in local matters be included in the composition of the membership of the court and urged that the bill should move to the committee stage.

Hon. Victoria Nyeche, Port Harcourt Constituency I, opined that membership of the court could not all be lawyers because there were some people who were conversant with native customs, stressing that outside the issue of composition, the merits of the bill were overwhelming, especially in dealing with traditional marriage without a will.

Irene Inimgba, Port Harcourt II, agreed with the suggestion of the presiding Speaker, Hon. Leyii Kwanee that considering the rural nature of the bill, public hearing could be localised to ensure that more rural people take part in the exercise to enrich the proposed law.

Hon. Ikuinyi Ibani (Andoni) said the bill was an improvement on the existing Customary Court Law but noted that local government council chairmen who breach the law should be sanctioned because the problem lay in the implementation.

Others who supported the bill include Dr Sam Eligwe, Kelechi Worgu, Josiah John Olu and Chidi Lloyd, observing that the House should consider involving rural people in the public hearing for adequate inputs.

The presiding Speaker, Hon. Kwanee, therefore, deferred debate that was unanimous for consultation on how to handle the public hearing to enhance meaningful impact based on the financial implication.