Anambra Assembly Passes Anambra State Magistrates’ Courts Bill

By Chukwuemeka Modilim

Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law for the establishment of Magistrates’ Courts for Anambra State and for the appointment of magistrates, justices of the peace and other officers of court and for other purposes relating to the administration of Justice.

The bill which was passed in the ongoing plenary of the House stipulates that every magistrate shall have power to administer oaths and solemn affirmations and declarations, to receive production of books and documents, and to make such decrees and orders and issue such process and exercise such powers, judicial and administrative, in relation to the administration of Justice as shall from time to time be prescribed by rules of court or,subject there to by any magistrates’ court.

It provides that every magistrate shall have jurisdiction throughout the state but may be assigned to any specific district or transferred from one district to another by the Chief Judge.

It also outlined the duties of an administrative magistrate, jurisdictions of Chief Magistrates in criminal causes and matters, powers of the Governor to increase jurisdiction of magistrates, timeline for hearing of criminal cases among others.