AGF tasks electoral reform c’ttee on offences’ tribunal
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday urged the Constitution and Electoral Reform Committee to consider the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal to prosecute electoral offences.
Malami (SAN) stated this in Abuja at the inauguration of a 24-member strong Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform.
Stating that Nigeria’s recent history of electoral practiceand the challenges of managing elections requires far reaching measures, Malami enjoined the committee to come out with an electoral reforms that would ensure peaceful, transparent and free elections in the country.
He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had expressed the desire to deepen the country commitment to democracy and entrench the culture of an enduring electoral system.
Therefore, he charged the committee to review the laws imparting elections in Nigeria, including the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2012.
Review and recommend the jurisdictional mandates of the proposed electoral tribunal. Review the recent judicial decisions on election petitions as they relate to conflicting judgments and absence of consequential orders.
Delays in the issuance of Certified True Copies of judgments. Identify and access international best practices that would impart positively on the quality of elections in the country.
Malami also tasked the committee to draw lessons from the Justice Muhammad Uwais’ Committee report and advice on outstanding issues for implementation.
The Nnamani committee was also charged to prepare and recommend a draft bill for approval of the President for submission to the National Assembly for enactment.
In his response, the chairman of the Committee Senator Ken Nnamani assured that the members of committee understand the task before it. He said that it certain that “if we get our laws correct it will reduce election violence and make the election free and fair”
Nnamani said that the country’s electoral Act need to be reformed to halt inconclusive elections. He assured that there would be slight different in the outcome of the present committee and that of Justice Uwais because majority of his committee were politicians who knows were the problems lies.
Other members of the committee are: Mr. Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Mrs. O. O. Babalola, Mr. Duruaku Chima, Mrs. Musa I. Maryam, Mr. H.A. Tahir, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), Mr. Eze Philip and Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim.
Others are Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Utum Eteng, Mr. Ejike Eze, Dr. Mamman Lawal, Mr Ude A.C., Mrs E. Ifendu , Dr Francis Abang Bullen, Mr Anike Nwoga, Mrs Cecilia Adams and Clement Nwankwo as the Secretary.
The Committee has ten weeks to submit its report.
