Legal Group Condemns Move By National Assembly to Amend ACJ Act

By Tobi Soniyi

The Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP) has condemned the move by the National Assembly to amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJ Act), 2015, describing it as self-serving and contrary to paragraph 1 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. 

A statement issued on Tuesday by LEDAP’s National Coordinator, Mr Chino Obiagwu,‎ said the ‎purpose of the amendment was to exclude the Code of Conduct Tribunal from the application of the ACJ Act. 

He said: “It is clearly a move by the leadership of the Senate to frustrate at all cost the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the tribunal.”

According to him, the desperation with which the Senate President and his supporters are throwing tantrums and seeking to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, simply for the purpose of seeking ways to frustrate his trial of the tribunal, raises the impression that he is guilty of the offence charged and they are only working to stop his trial.

He said:  “By amending the ACJ Act, the Senate will end up frustrating the good intentions of the Act simply because of the pursuit to stop Mr. Saraki’s trial.”

The bill to amend the ACJ Act, titled ‘A Bill for an Act to amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and other related matters, 2016 (SB.249)’, sponsored by Senator Isah H. Misau (Bauchi Central) passed through second reading on Thursday 14 April 2016.

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