Gov Otti signs four bills into law, introduces criminal justice reforms in Abia

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has signed four bills into law, including three designed to reform the state’s criminal justice system and another to amend the law governing Abia State University.

The newly enacted 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.

Otti signed the laws during a ceremony at the Government House in Umuahia on Monday.

Speaking at the event, the governor expressed appreciation to members of the Abia State House of Assembly, the judiciary and staff of both arms of government for their contributions to the development and passage of the bills.

He said he had taken time to study the bills and was satisfied with their contents.

Otti said, “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.”

The governor said enacting laws was different from enforcing them, assuring residents that his administration had the political will to ensure compliance.

He said, “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.”

Otti also disclosed that his administration had begun relocating the Faculties of Law and Agriculture of Abia State University from Umuahia to the institution’s main campus in Uturu to take advantage of shared services and ongoing investments. He said the university’s teaching hospital in Aba would remain an exception.

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

Explaining the provisions of the three justice reform laws, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, said they addressed prohibited conduct, procedures for handling criminal cases and ways of repairing harm caused by crime.

Uwanna said, “These reforms respond to the concerns of our people, the fear of cult violence, kidnapping, destruction of public facilities, the suffering of victims of sexual violence, and the frustration of criminal proceedings that take too long.”

He explained that the Criminal Law strengthened measures against cultism by addressing membership, sponsorship and management of unlawful societies. It also provided sanctions for the vandalisation of public infrastructure, including transformers, boreholes and streetlights, while strengthening protections against rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and other forms of violence.

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

Uwanna said the Administration of Criminal Justice Law established procedures for arrest, bail, remand, trial and sentencing. It also prohibited the arrest of one person in place of another and the use of arrest to pursue civil disputes.

He added that the Restorative Justice Law provided a framework for victims and offenders to voluntarily address responsibility and reparation under supervision, while excluding capital offences, kidnapping, terrorism, corruption and financial crimes.

Uwanna said, “No victim should be pressured to accept an agreement. Restorative justice must operate within the law and under safeguards it prescribes.”

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

He said International IDEA and RoLAC II had also supported a retreat for lawmakers and pledged assistance with translating the laws into Igbo.

Uwanna said the focus following the signing would be on implementation, circulation, translation and training for relevant stakeholders.

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