23/08/2025
EBONYI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PRESS RELEASE
EBHA PASSES A BILL FOR A LAW TO:
▪️AMEND SECTION 30 AS WELL AS SECTION 25 OF THE SECOND SCHEDULE OF THE EBONYI STATE ELECTORAL AND RELATED MATTERS (AMENDMENT) LAW NO 001 OF 2020.
▪️AMEND THE MAGISTRATE COURT LAW OF EBONYI STATE TO INCREASE THE MONETARY JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATE'S COURTS IN CIVIL CAUSES OR MATTERS AND FOR RELATED MATTERS (AMENDMENT) LAW.
▪️PROVIDE FOR THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS, ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN EBONYI STATE AND FOR RELATED MATTERS
Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed three executive bills forwarded to the House by the State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. The event, which took place at the legislative complex, Nkaliki Road Abakaliki, during an emergency plenary of Friday, was presided by the Speaker, Chief Moses Ije Odunwa.
First was a bill for a law to amend section 30 as well as section 25 of the second schedule of the Ebonyi State electoral and related matters (amendment) law No. 001of 2020.
Reading the letter of the State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa said that the bill when passed, will ensure transparency, efficiency, and productivity in the State.
The Chief Whip of the House, Chief Nkemka Okoro Onuma, Said that the State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru has done well by coming up with the bill, adding that it can withstand legal fight, and urged his colleagues to support the passage.
Contributing, the Member representing Izzi West State Constituency, Chief Godwin Abiri, and the Member representing Ikwo North Constituency, Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu, maintained that the bill, when passed will enable the electoral body, to carry out timely sensitization and awareness, and as well, clampdown litigation that may arise after the election.
The Members representing Ezza South Constituency, Hon. Friday Ogbuewu Said,
"This bill is apt and timely because if it is successfully amended, it will give a legitimate backing to the activities of our state independent electoral body to avoid them embarking on efforts in futility during the next elections. So, I think it is appropriate for the government to progress positively to avoid making progress in error. And it is the right thing for government not to embark on the journey that will reverse the direction of the government. So, I think for that reason alone, it is appropriate that all of us should lend our voices strongly to ensure that what the state government is planning in giving our state a very credible election is a success. So, that is why it is appropriate to air on the side of caution. So, on that note, I stand firmly to support other voices of reason that this bill be allowed to successfully pass."
The Speaker of the House, Chief Moses Ije Odunwa, reemphasized the importance of the bill, adding that it will determine the success of the State electoral body, and however, put a motion on voice votes, to enable the bill, passed through second reading, and it was unanimously accepted.
The Plenary was dissolved to committee of a whole, to enable the House Members, dot their i's and cross their t's, through a motion, that was moved by the Chief Whip of the House, Chief Nkemka Okoro Onuma, and seconded by the member representing Ebonyi North West State Constituency, Hon. Aloysius Nwodo. Thereafter, the plenary was reconvened, to enable the Chairman, assume his seat as the Speaker and report progress.
Reporting progress, the Speaker of the House, Chief Moses Ije Odunwa, emphasized the contents of the proposed bill, and directed the Clerk of the the House, to draw up memo, notifying the State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, the passage of the bill.
Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly also passed a bill for a law to amend the Magistrate Court Law of Ebonyi State to increase the monetary jurisdiction of Magistrate's courts in civil causes or matters and for related matters (amendment) Law, and also, A bill for a law to provide for the ease of doing business, ensure transparency, efficiency and productivity in Ebonyi State and for related matters.
On his submission, the Member representing Ebonyi North West State Constituency, Hon. Aloysius Nwodo said;
"I rise to support the amendment to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of magistrate courts in Ebonyi State. Magistrate courts in Ebonyi State have the jurisdiction limited to less than 300,000 naira for magistrate grade court one, magistrate grade court two for 200,000 Naira and grade three for 100,000 Naira.
"The implication of this Mr. Speaker is that any matter that involves more than these amounts mentioned, the magistrates of Ebonyi State cannot entertain them. And Ebonyi State being a state wherein, citizens operate and litigations cannot end, 300,000 Naira for magistrate grade one is so small that if a magistrate grade one cannot handle above 400,000 Naira, 500,000 Naira cases, it means the summary jurisdiction and summary imports of magistrate courts is in a way irrelevant. And for that reason Mr. Speaker, there is an earnest need for increment of pecuniary power of magistrate courts in Ebonyi State.
" And I so support and submit in the first limb of this bill. In the second limb Mr. Speaker, it is talking about giving an ease to doing business and ensuring transparency, efficiency, productivity in Ebonyi State for and for other matters related thereto. Mr. Speaker, Ebonyi State is a growing state and it needs the business. Business is a hub of development. And people coming to do business in Ebonyi State should be given an ease or aids to assist them do business and assist the citizens of Ebonyi. And if this is done Mr. Speaker, I tell you that investors will have all their ways clear in Ebonyi to do business."
The Chief Whip of the House, Chief Nkemka Okoro Onuma, and the Member representing Ivo Constituency, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu described the bills as apt, and explained the needs to give it an express passage.
The Speaker of the House, Chief Moses Odunwa, emphasized the importance of the bill, adding that Ebonyi as a growing state, needed a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, and however, put the motion on voice votes, to enable the bill, pass through the second reading, and was generally accepted.
The Plenary was dissolved to committee of a whole, to enable further legislative deliberation through a motion that was moved by the Chief Whip of the House, Chief Nkemka Okoro Onuma, and seconded by the Member representing Ebonyi North East Constituency, Mrs Chinyere Nwogbaga. Thereafter, the plenary was reconvened, to enable the Chairman, assume his seat as the Speaker and report progress.
Reporting progress, the Speaker of the House, Chief Moses Ije Odunwa, re-emphasized the contents of the bill, and directed the Clerk of the the House, to write a memo, notifying the State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, the passage of the bill.
Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly, also adopted and passed a report of the House Committee on Power and Energy, submitted by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Chikezie Igu.
The plenary was adjourned to another legislative day, through a motion a motion that was moved by the Chief Whip of the House, Chief Nkemka Okoro Onuma, and seconded by the Member representing Ezza North East Constituency, Hon. Kelvin Kenechukwu Okeh.
Theophilus Ifeanyi Igwe,
Chief Press Secretary to the Rt. Hon. Speaker.
August 22, 2025.
