Niger state House of Assembly takes measures to curb thuggery activities.
By Yahaya Zakka Minna.
Niger State House of Assembly has taken a significant step towards curbing thuggery in the state with the presentation of a Private Member Bill for a law to amend the existing law on thuggery.
The bill, presented by Mohammed Abubakar, member representing Chanchaga Constituency, aimed to make the law more severe, with stiffer penalties for offenders.
“We will now make these sections of the law more severe so that some sections will be capital offences,” he said.
He said the bill also provides protection for witnesses in court, addressing the issue of witnesses being afraid to testify.
Abubakar noted that “many cases were discharged at the instance of people being afraid to come as witnesses.
He noted that the bill proposes that thuggery cases be tried in state high courts, rather than magistrate courts, and that offenders can be tried anywhere in the state.
The lawmaker explained that “if you commit thuggery crime in Suleja, you will be moved from Suleja to Borgu and be tried there.
He added that the bill also proposes stiffer penalties, including higher fines.
According to him, where you give them less money as fine, that’s why these crimes are in persistence.
We have changed it to N3 million so that if a parent wants to go and bail his thug son, he will have to sell his house before doing that,” he added.
He said the bill has received support from members of the House, who accompanied him to submit the bill.
Abubakar expressed confidence that the governor would assent to the bill, saying “I believe he will be the first and happy to assent to the bill without giving it a second thought.
He said the bill has passed its first reading, and a public hearing would be held during its second reading to gather input from stakeholders.
Abubakar noted that “the second reading will give room for public hearing where we will invite ministry of justice, lawyers, critical stakeholders, members of communities to give their opinions.
