By Gbenga Sodeinde
A bill seeking to domesticate the international best practices in the reduction of crimes would soon be passed in Ekiti state.
Chairman of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, Hon.Tajudeen Akingbolu stated this while declaring open a Public Hearing on a bill tagged Criminal Law of Ekiti State Bill, 2021in Ado Ekiti.
Hon. Akingbolu remarked that the bill aimed at the future, and project against crimes that would emerge as a result of development and technology.
He said that the bill would also ensured that crimes in the state are combated to the barest minimum and also give room for fair jugdement, especially for those at the correctional centers.
He assured that the Committee would look into the submission of stakeholders at the public hearing, towards a final passage of the bill.
In their contributions, stakeholders at the public hearing, described the bill as a timely initiative to make provisions to correct the lacuna in the Criminal Law of the state.
They commended the Ekiti State House of Assembly for its efforts at passing the bill, stating that the bill was highly necessary due to the incessant security and other challenges facing the country at this period.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, in his contributions, said the bill was to modernize the existing criminal law and address the clauses hindering prosecution of criminals.
He expressed his support to the passage of the bill, stressing that it would promote investigation, prosecution and adjudication of crimes in Ekiti state.
Other participants at the public hearing were representatives of the Ekiti State Law Reform Commission, Judiciary Commission, Nigeria Bar Association, Civil Societies Organizations among others.