Bill to establish Christian court scales second reading in House of Reps

- A bill to provide for the establishment of the Ecclesiastical Court of Appeal in Nigeria is in the offing

- The bill has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives

- The bill is sponsored by Honourable Gyang Dung from Plateau state and eight others

A bill to provide for the establishment of the Ecclesiastical Court of Appeal in Nigeria has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill is sponsored by a House member from Plateau state and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Honourable Gyang Dung and eight others.

While presenting the bill during plenary today, December 6, Dung said the Ecclesiastical courts would complement the regular courts especially with matters relating to the tenets of the Christian faith, when established.

Dung however noted that this shall be between individuals and groups that yield and submit to its jurisdiction, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

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He also said the Ecclesiastical court shall exercise such appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Ecclesiastical law and Christian personal law.

The amendment bill is seeking 14 alterations in sections 6, 84, 185, 240, 246, 247, 288, 289, 292 and 318 of the principal Act.

The amendments will also widen the scope of jurisprudence, adjudication and legal practice in Nigeria and  activate section 37 (1) of the 1999 constitution which guaranteed the right of every citizen to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Dung said: “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.

“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. It will also entail freedom to propagate one’s religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.’’

The bill requires that cardinals will serve as judges of in the Christian court, but they will be drawn from those learned in the law.

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Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara referred the bill to the Special ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 constitution.