Lawmakers Reject Criminal Code Amendment Bill

Members of the Anambra State  House of Assembly  have kicked against an executive bill to amend the state’s Criminal Code Laws 1991.

The bill, presented to the plenary session by the Majority Leader, Mr Halford Oseke, received objection from many members.

Mr Valentine Ayika, representing Njikoka 1 constituency, said the bill was wrongly worded and should be sent back for proper wording.

He said it was improper for the government to act on the basis of suspicion and for the assembly to pass such a bill to secure, seal and demolish a building where a kidnap victim was rescued before the trial of the suspected kidnapper.

Ayika said it would be wrong for any person’s building to be sealed, secured or demolished without fair hearing and judgment from a competent court.

Mr Emeka Aniebonam, representing Onitsha South 2, urged the state government to think of other ways of combating kidnapping and other crimes other than demolishing or sealing houses.

Aniebonam said the real owners of such buildings might not be aware of the activities of their erring tenants.

According to him, it will amount to miscarriage of justice to seal or demolish such property without fair hearing or judgment from a court of law.

Other members also kicked against the bill as they regarded it as a contravention of the country’s constitution.

Mrs Rita Maduagwu, (Nnewi South 2), however, said the bill should not be thrown out or sent back, but should be amended by removing the wrong words in it.

The Speaker of the assembly, Mrs Chinwe Nwaebili, ruled that the bill be sent back to the executive. Nwaebili appointed a four-man committee to join the executive in amending the bill. Members of the committee are Messrs Halford Oseke (Chairman), Gaberil Onyewuife, Chigbo Enwuzor and Mrs Rita Madagwu.