Administration of Criminal Justice Law: Elekeokwuri Appreciates House Members for their Support

By Miracle Enuji

Honourable Member Representing Ika North East State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Anthony Elekeokwuri has appreciated his fellow House Members for their immense support to the actualization of the Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2016) being the first member private sponsored bill assented to in the Sixth Assembly.

The Bill which was passed during the Second session of the Sixth Assembly, was finally assented to on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 by the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

In a media chat with Journalists in his Office, Hon Elekeokwuri thanked all those who made the bill a success, saying, “I am the lead sponsor but would not have succeeded if not for the support of the Speaker and hard working members of the House especially the lawyers. They supported us and most of them co-sponsors. I am happy to have been the lead sponsor but I can assure you that it was not just me and I give tributes to all of them that we have been able to pass it into law.”

“The importance of the bill can not be over emphasized and that is why the Governor has assented to the bill. It is a great one for me, great one for the people of Ika North East and for Deltans because for once, we are giving power to the women (Signage of Bail Bond) and a lot more about the bill. We have been able to enlarge the scope of jurisprudence and I am happy that I am a part of it even as a first time member,” the lawmaker added.

Elekeokwuri further commended the effort of the Ministry of Justice for their supportive role noting that even when there were preparations by the Ministry to forward like bill to the House, they jettisoned theirs and joined forces with the House to actualize the bill.

The Ika North East Representative who has been reappointed for a second time as Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts said that the reforms already introduced during his first appointment will be sustained. “We would continue with our financial reforms, making sure that we clean up the system to enhance transparency and accountability in governance and that is what we have been doing and we would continue in that.”

The Lawmaker added that a speed up of the process is what is needed as it relates to the law and part of that were contained in the passage of the Procurement law and Fiscal Responsibility law in the state. “We are also pushing for the Public Financial Management Bill and Audit Bill to come in from the executive. These are bills that will enhance transparency and accountability in governance and as public accounts committee, we are standing for it and making sure that the Local government, Ministries and Agencies are in line with us.”