The Cross River State
House of Assembly has held a public hearing on a bill for a law to establish the Customary Court of Appeal of Cross River State.
Addressing a gathering of personalities, majority of whom from the Judiciary, and Executive arms of Government, the chairman of the occasion and member representing Yala II State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Ogana Lukpata, acknowledged the pressure brought to bear on the House by the sponsor of the bill, to facilitate the process of having a law establishing the Customary Court of Appeal in Cross River State.
Hon. Lukpata maintained that the public hearing was the next stage of the process towards having the bill passed into law and therefore called for inputs from the public, particularly, the judiciary towards a holistic law.
The Chairman of the occasion added that the establishment of the Customary Court of Appeal, would create employment opportunities for more lawyers in the State.
Sponsor of the bill for a law to establish the Customary Court of Appeal of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Jacob Otu Enyia and member representing Boki II State Constituency, reflected on the foundation of the bill which he said commenced 8 years ago, and was among the first three bills sponsored at the floor of the House of Assembly, when the seventh Assembly began.
Speaking on the bill, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Attah Ochinke commended the sponsor and co-sponsors of the Customary Court of Appeal bill, describing it as apt and timely.
Barrister Ochinke suggested however, that trial time should be allowed for members of the public to study the bill, make inputs to enable the State House of Assembly set up a future date for another public hearing.
The sponsor and co-sponsors of the bill of to establish the Customary Court of Appeal of Cross River State include; Rt. Hon. Jacob Otu Enyia (sponsor), Hon. John Gaul Lebo- Abi, Hon. Ogana Lukpata- Yala II, Rt. Hon. Agbiji M. Agbiji- Ikom I, Hon. Stephen A. Ukpukpen- Obudu, Hon. Ajor Idagu Agaji- Bekwara, Rt. Hon. George O’ben Etichi- Akamkpa II, Hon. Joseph Bassey- Calabar South II, Hon. Saviour Nyong- Bakassi, Hon. Alex Sunday Irek- Obubra I, and Rt. Hon. Uduak Akiba Eyo- Calabar Municipal (co-sponsors).
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
