The House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading a bill to establish the Ecclesiastical Court of Appeal to handle matters related to the Christian faith.
The House said it would amend 14 sections of the 1999 Constitution to allow for the establishment of the Christian courts.
The bill, sponsored by Reps Istifanus Dung Gyang (PDP, Plateau) and Timothy Golu (PDP, Plateau) alongside seven others, provides for the functions, jurisdiction, qualifications, appointments and tenure of office for the judicial officers to man the courts if established.
Leading the debate, Gyang said the amendment was in line with Section 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to propagate belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
He said the courts would be headed by cardinals as judges, to be appointed by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and to be drawn from those learned in law and would administer justice in accordance with the Christian faith and the law of the nation.
DailyTrust
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As for me, this is not in the interest of the nation because it will creat more division among Nigerians