The Cross River State Anti Kidnapping Law was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey.
It was passed into Law, assented to and Gazzeted in 2018.
In 2018, Cross River witnessed the worst case of gun violence, cultism and kidnapping in the state.
Stakeholders mapping showed that the neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Benue who had witnessed similar cases reacted proactively by domesticating a template for an Anti Kidnapping Law.
Against all odds, the Deputy Speaker sponsored the bill on Anti kidnapping with a view to empower the state and its institutions with enormous legal backing to fight the scourge of kidnapping that was going on almost on a daily basis in the state.
The Law was sponsored, argued and passed into law with four implementation frameworks:
A. The prosecution of offenders without bail under a
strict liability offence scenario and protection for
witnesses and volunteers of information.
B. Forfeiture and demolition of assets and properties owned or used for the commission of the offense, including assets or properties being proceeds of the crime.
C. Prosecution and forfeiture of properties and assets of accessories before or after the fact of the offense, especially those who protect, collaborate or partner with the accused persons, including independent private properties used for the commission of the offense.
D. It is the responsibility of the State Security Council, made up of the heads of all the key security agencies in the state, who are empowered by the Law, to provide syndicate mapping and forensic report to the Governor on the crime, criminals, assets, properties and their operations, for necessary or prompt urgent response as the case may be.
Following the assent given to the bill, the governor immediately set up the Operation Akpakwu security outfit to go after the kidnappers like wild dogs.
With the aggressive and offensive attack from Operation Akpakwu, the security outfit was able to stem down the menace of kidnapping in Cross River.
Interestingly, kidnappers who were on the ‘wanted list’ of security agencies were apprehend, their hide-outs and assets used in the criminal act were destroyed according to the guidelines of the law.
Also, the Cross River State Public Order Prohibition of Secret Cult And Offensive Weapons Bill 2019 was
sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey.
According to Bassey, the bill seeks not only to define who is a member of a cult, but to actually explain who a cultist is.
He added that the bill was expected to stop the incessant killings on campuses by cultists.
The Deputy Speaker was courageous enough to sponsor the bill at a time where cultism became a top killer factor in the state, even more deadly than some diseases.
While explaining the components of the bill on the floor of the assembly, the Deputy Speaker said: “The killing of young Crossriverians on our campuses is alarming and we must take steps to address it.
"This bill seeks to outline a stiffer punishment for
any individual who is arrested for involvement in
cultism to set as a deterrent to others”.
It is believed that the Deputy Speaker, who is vying to represent Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly is excessively prepared to step into the Green Chambers to sponsor bills and move motions that will have direct bearings an impact on Nigerians and to his immediate constituency.
Political stakeholders and analysts are of the view that if elected into the House of Representatives, the top ranking legislator has what it takes to change the narratives and attract development to his federal constituency.
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