Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has assented to four bills to strengthen the laws of the State, assuring that his administration has the political will to ensure effective implementation.
The bills signed into law are: The Abia State University Amendment Law No. 4 of 2026, The Abia State Restorative Justice Law No. 8 of 2026, The Abia State Criminal Law No. 7 of 2026 and The Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 6 of 2026.
Speaking while assenting to the bills at Government House, Umuahia, on Monday, October 19, 2026, Governor Otti observed that laws can become obsolete with time and require amendment to reflect changing societal realities.
“I think laws sometimes become obsolete, and when that happens, there may be a need to amend them to reflect the realities of the time,” Gov. Otti stated.
The Governor explained that lawmakers and those responsible for implementation must be willing to review existing provisions where necessary, particularly when such laws no longer address contemporary challenges effectively.
Governor Otti called on lawmakers, law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities to work together to ensure that laws serve their intended purposes, noting that the existence of laws without consequences for violations could undermine public order and encourage lawlessness.
The State Chief Executive stressed that having laws in place is not enough, and that the real challenge lies in ensuring effective implementation.
“When there are laws and people respect them, everything works like clockwork. But when there are no consequences for breaking the law, there is a problem. Having the law is one thing, but implementing it and ensuring that the law applies is another,” Gov. Otti stated.
Presenting the bills for assent, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the House followed due legislative procedures to produce comprehensive laws aimed at strengthening the criminal justice system, promoting restorative justice and improving the administration of justice in the State.
He emphasized the need for caution in handling legislation relating to criminal justice, noting that such laws have significant implications for human life and the rights of citizens.
Earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, highlighted key provisions of the four bills, saying they are designed to strengthen criminal justice administration, protect citizens and improve access to justice.
Mr. Uwanna thanked Governor Otti for supporting the State’s justice sector reforms and disclosed plans to translate the laws into Igbo language to make their provisions more accessible to the people.
