A bill seeking to amend the Criminal Justice Act of 2004 passed through second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The proposed amendment is concerned with the release of persons detained in custody and area of special provisions in the act.
The bill primarily seeks to include the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in the list of persons authorised to exercise the powers to order the release.
It seeks that the powers to order the release be based in the circumstances specified in the act.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Rep. Aminu Shagari (PDP-Sokoto), said if passed, it would tackle the issue of detainees spending longer time in prison.
He said that the proposed legislation would also reduce the number of inmates awaiting trial.
Shagari urged members to support the bill so that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court might be authorised to release inmates that were qualified to be released.
Contributing, Rep. Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia), said that the proposed amendment would help to de-congest the prisons.
Rep. Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta) urged members to support the bill, saying that any “grey” areas would be addressed at the public hearing of the proposed amendment.
The bill was, however, opposed by Rep. Ossai Ossai (PDP-Delta), who argued that the amendment sought would amount to duplication of the functions of the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN).
Reps Uzoma Abonta (PDP-Abia) and Rapheal Igbokwe (PDP-Imo), in their submissions, supported Ossai that the bill was a duplication of efforts.
Igbokwe argued that the constitution recognised the CJN as head of the federal high court and Chief Judge of the State as head of the judiciary in a state.
The opposition, notwithstanding, the bill scaled through second reading and the Deputy Speaker, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, referred it to the Committee on Judiciary for more inputs.
In a related development, the House passed for second reading, a bill to amend some sections of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria Act of 2010.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jones Onyereri (PDP-Imo), seeks to further make clarification of the existing act and strengthen it.
It was referred to the Committee on Banking and Finance for legislative input.
