Senate passes Bill‎ sponsored by late Adeleke

A bill seeking to protect witnesses in court scaled into third reading in the Senate following the consideration of a report submitted by the Senate Committee on Human Rights, Legal Matters and Judiciary.

The bill, titled: “Witness Protection Programme (Establishment etc), SB 157,” was sponsored by late Senator Isiaka Adeleke before he died.‎
The bill proposes two years imprisonment; with an option of a fine of N500,000 or both for witnesses who violate provisions of the planned law.

In his remarks after the passage of the bill, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary session, said he was confident the passage of the bill will greatly enrich Nigeria’s judicial system and make it easy to get witnesses to testify in courts.

Ekweremadu said the bill will ensure the wheel of justice is not in anyway encumbered and also dedicated it to the memory of Adeleke who died last month.