THE House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja passed a bill to set up the Ecclesiastical Court of Appeal in the country, through a second reading.
The bill is sponsored by Gyang Dung (PDP-Plateau) and eight others.
Presenting the bill during plenary, Mr. Dung said the Ecclesiastical courts, when established, would complement the regular courts in adjudicating in matters relating to the tenets of the Christian faith.
According to him, this shall be between individuals and groups that yield and submit to its jurisdiction.
Mr. Dung explained that the Ecclesiastical court shall exercise such appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Ecclesiastical law and Christian personal law.
The lawmaker said the amendment bill was seeking 14 alterations in sections 6, 84, 185, 240, 246, 247, 288, 289, 292 and 318 of the principal Act.
“It alters the second, third, sixth, and seventh schedule of the principal act.
“It has four insertions in Part 1G, section 270A-E, Part 2D, Section 285A-E and a citation,’’ Mr. Dung said.
According to him, the amendments will no doubt widen the scope of jurisprudence, adjudication and legal practice in our nation.
“It will bring to reality the administration of Ecclesiastical Christian tenets and law in adjudicating matters of personal Christian law and civil matters.
“These shall be prescribed in the rule of practice and procedure of the Ecclesiastical courts.’’
Mr. Dung emphasised that the amendment would activate section 37 (1) of the 1999 constitution which guarantees the right of every citizen to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
“It will also entails freedom to propagate one’s religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance,’’ Dung said.
He said that Cardinals who will serve as judges of the Ecclesiastical court shall be drawn from those learned in law.
They shall be required to administer justice in accordance with the Christian faith and the law of the nation.
Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, referred the bill to the Special ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 constitution.
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