Despite the fact that the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has compelled the Imo House of Assembly to repeal the contentious “Abortion Law” in Imo State, a Lawyer in the State has petitioned the Imo House of Assembly to furnish him with information regarding the passage of the Bill into Law.
Invoking the spirit of the Freedom of Information Domestication Law, No 8 of 2012, Ngozi C Olehi & Co demands the process which led to the passage of Law No 12 of 2012 in the Imo House of Assembly.
In the letter addressed to the Clerk, Imo State House of Assembly, dated September 30, 2013 and captioned “Request for Information with Respect to Law No 12 of 2012 and Law No 7 of 2007” the Lawyer with address at 25 Mbaise Road Owerri, demands among other things, the order papers and Hanzard.
“Pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Domestication Law No 8 of 2012, I hereby apply for (1) the Order Papers and (2) Hanzard of the State House of Assembly regarding the passage of the following “Laws” (1) Gender and Equal Opportunities Law No 7 of 2007, (2) Imo State of Nigeria Violence Against Persons (prohibition) Law No 12, of 2012” the petition reads in part.
The Lawyer averred that the Freedom of Information Law prescribes certain days the document he seeks for would last.
“The Freedom of Information Domestication Law No 8 of 2012 prescribes a certain number of days within which the information requested there under has to be granted”, the Lawyer told Imo Assembly.
The Lawyer said that even though the “Abortion Law” has been “aborted” following uproar from Imo populace against the contentious aberration, but yet Imo people still needs to know how the Bill was passed into Law, since it was never presented for public hearing.
