OTTI SIGNS NEW LAWS TO TACKLE CULTISM, KIDNAPPING, SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN ABIA

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has signed four bills into law, three of which are designed to reform the state’s criminal justice system, while the fourth amends the law governing Abia State University.

The new laws are the Abia State University Amendment Law No. 4 of 2026, Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 6 of 2026, Abia State Criminal Law No. 7 of 2026 and Abia State Restorative Justice Law No. 8 of 2026.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at Government House, Umuahia, on Monday, Otti commended members of the state House of Assembly, the judiciary and personnel of both arms of government for their contributions to the legislation.

The governor said he had carefully reviewed the bills and was satisfied with their provisions.

He noted that existing laws sometimes restricted the government’s ability to enforce strict consequences for misconduct, stressing that the new legislation would provide a stronger legal framework for accountability.

“Sometimes we find it difficult to implement some of the things we have in mind, because when you go and check the law, you’ll find that the law does not allow you to implement strict consequence management,” he said.

Otti distinguished between passing laws and enforcing them, assuring residents that his administration was committed to ensuring compliance.

“What we can assure you here is that we have the will to ensure that the laws are respected. When there are laws and people respect the laws, everything looks like clockwork,” he added.

The governor also disclosed that his administration had commenced plans to relocate the Faculties of Law and Agriculture of Abia State University from Umuahia to the institution’s main campus in Uturu to benefit from shared facilities and ongoing investments. However, the university’s teaching hospital in Aba would remain at its current location.

Earlier, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, presented the four bills to Otti for assent and praised stakeholders who contributed to their passage.

Explaining the three justice-related laws, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, said they addressed criminal offences, procedures for handling criminal cases and mechanisms for repairing harm caused by crime.

Uwanna said the reforms were designed to respond to public concerns over cult-related violence, kidnapping, the destruction of public infrastructure, sexual violence and delays in criminal proceedings.

He explained that the Criminal Law strengthened provisions against cultism by criminalising membership, sponsorship and the management of unlawful societies. It also introduced sanctions for vandalising public infrastructure, including transformers, boreholes and streetlights, while reinforcing protections against rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and other forms of violence.

According to the attorney general, the law recognises both male and female rape victims, provides for a sex offenders register and addresses kidnapping, child exploitation, as well as offences involving electronic records and digital assets.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Law, he added, establishes procedures for arrest, bail, remand, trial and sentencing. It also prohibits the arrest of one person in place of another and the use of arrest as a means of settling civil disputes.

Meanwhile, the Restorative Justice Law establishes a framework through which victims and offenders can voluntarily agree on accountability and reparation under supervision. However, capital offences, kidnapping, terrorism, corruption and financial crimes are excluded from the process.

Uwanna stressed that victims must not be coerced into accepting agreements under the restorative justice framework, noting that the process must operate within the law and its prescribed safeguards.

He commended the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai; the state House of Assembly; the review committee; the Nigerian Bar Association; law enforcement agencies; and International IDEA and RoLAC II for their contributions to the reforms.

He added that International IDEA and RoLAC II had supported a retreat for lawmakers and pledged assistance in translating the laws into Igbo.

Uwanna said the next phase would focus on implementing and circulating the laws, translating them and training relevant stakeholders to ensure effective enforcement.