Oyo Speaker, Adedoyin, others sponsor Customary Courts Amendment Bill 2024

Majority leader and member of Oyo state House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin with the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, on Wednesday, sponsored Customary Courts (Amendment) Bill 2024. 

Other sponsors included Hon. O. C. Rahaman (Oyo East/West), Hon. B. O. Adeola (Isesiwaju), Hon. A. A. Ogundare (OgoOluwa/Surulere), and Hon. B. G. Adebayo (Ibadan North II). 

MOUTHPIECE NGR understands that the bill was intended to improve access to justice by enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and integrity of customary courts for purposes of resolving disputes, with the view to promoting social cohesion, co-existence and harmony.

Our correspondent who attended the House plenary session reported that the bill was basically for a law to amend the customary courts law 2018. 

Section 5 of the Principal Law as amended included appointment of Grade ‘A’ President shall be permanent and notwithstanding the provision of any Law, Grade ‘A’ President shall retire at the age of 65 years or on reaching 40 years in service, whichever is earlier”

The Second Schedule to the Principal Law amended, “Unlimited jurisdiction to administer or grant power or authority to any person to administer the estate of an intestate under the Customary Law”

 Substituting “Five Hundred Thousand Naira” with “Five Million Naira”

Causes and matters relating to minor chieftaincy”

Amendment of the Third Schedule to the Principal Law.

The Third Schedule to the Principal Law is amended by substituting “Thirty Thousand Naira or seven years” with “One Hundred Thousand Naira or fourteen years”.