The Edo State House of Assembly has taken a significant legislative step by repealing the existing 2025 Customary Court of Appeal Law and passing a new bill to re-establish the court under updated legal provisions.
The decision followed a detailed clause-by-clause review during the committee of the whole session held in Benin City.
Following the adoption of the revised bill, Speaker Chief Blessing Agbebaku instructed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Audu Omogbai, to prepare and forward clean copies to Governor Monday Okpebholo for executive assent.
The re-establishment bill is expected to modernize the operations of the Customary Court of Appeal, aligning it with current judicial standards and improving access to customary justice across the state.
In a related development, the Assembly also received and reviewed a report on a proposed law aimed at safeguarding government assets. The bill, which seeks to establish the Edo State Property Protection Committee, was presented by Mrs. Maria Edeko, Chairperson of the Committee on Security and Public Safety and representative of Esan North-East II.
Edeko explained that during committee deliberations, several gaps were identified in the initial draft, prompting necessary amendments. The revised report includes four key findings and one recommendation focused on enhancing the security and accountability of government establishments.
The House subsequently adopted the report, signaling its commitment to protecting public infrastructure and ensuring responsible stewardship of state resources.
Speaker Agbebaku urged all members to finalize outstanding committee assignments for presentation and debate before the House adjourns until Monday, October 27. The call reflects the Assembly’s push to clear legislative backlogs and maintain momentum on governance reforms.
These developments underscore the Assembly’s active role in judicial restructuring and public asset protection, reinforcing its legislative priorities under the current administration.
