The Committee for the review of the Criminal Code of Anambra State was inaugurated on the 11th day of February, 2020 and chaired by Hon. Justice Peter .C. Obiora. The Committee after a diligent and painstaking review of the Criminal Code of Anambra State presented a copy of the reviewed Criminal Law of Anambra State to the Hon. Attorney General of Anambra State on Wednesday, the 26th day of May, 2021.
Presenting the copy of the law, Hon. Justice Peter .C. Obiora stated that the Committee painstakingly deliberated on every section of the extant law to determine whether each provision and punishments still serve the purpose in our current clime. He further stated that in the course of the review, certain new offences were created, non-custodial punishments were introduced to checkmate the congestion of our correctional facilities. The new Criminal Law (draft bill) has 49 chapters and 460 sections. Amongst the offences it provided for were Human trafficking, cheating in examinations, computer and electronic date misuse, forfeiture of properties used for kidnapping purposes, defilement as a non-gender based offense amongst others.
In receiving the draft copy of the law from the Committee led by the Chairman, Hon. Justice Obiora, the Hon. Attorney General of Anambra State, Dr. Obianuju Nwogu, FCArb welcomed the committee. She expressed her gratitude to the committee for making the review of the law a possibility. She thanked them for the sacrifices they put in to ensure that they completed the task.
In her remarks, she said “this document will stand the test of time when passed into law. It will be in line with the contemporary society and replace the very old, archaic laws of Anambra State since 1991, 30 years ago. By this you have uplifted Anambra State a notch. The Government of Anambra State thanks you, her people thanks you. The Ministry of Justice, Anambra State thanks you”.
She also commended
RoLAC for spearheading the process. She also thanked RoLAC represented by Mrs. Josephine Onah for the various efforts they have been making in the State to see that the Criminal Justice system in the State keeps improving. These efforts range from assisting in the review of laws, installation of e-case management system in the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary amongst others.
She further prayed that God blesses their efforts exceedingly. She also assured them that the Bill will be passed into Law in a very short while as the Governor of Anambra State is very desirous of making that happen.
The representative of RoLAC, Mrs. Josephine Onah stated that the review of this law and its consequential passage into law was a great achievement for the Anambra State Government. She also prayed that other already reviewed laws like the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State and the Magistrate Court Law of Anambra State be speedily passed into law too. She stated that RoLAC was about to enter into the 5th year work plan of their project in Anambra State and were grateful for the cooperation of the Anambra State Government.
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