Date: 2018-12-05

...commends Gov Ahmed's assent

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad has eulogized Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed for assenting to law adopting the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, recently passed by the State House of Assembly recently.

The law tagged "Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice Law,2018" was assented to on Monday.

The Speaker, while reacting to the Governor's assent to the law, expressed confidence that the 490 clause law, is the most efficient and sophisticated law on the subject matter in the Country.

It would be recalled that the current Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad, was the one who during the 7th Legislature of the House of Representatives, sponsored ACJA, ensured through the then Attorney General of the Federation, that it was signed into law by the then President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Under the new law, which reflects recent Supreme Court pronouncements and especially stern warnings from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, holding charges by courts are now completely outlawed.

Thus, among other innovations, remand proceedings, where suspects are kept in detention for long without being formally charged are no longer possible in the State.

The Speaker thanked all lawyers and judges that contributed in shaping the law, hoping that the fundamental objectives of criminal justice system will be better served under the new law.