Abia Assembly Passes Property and Tenancy Bill, Approves Three Other Key Justice Laws

The Abia State House of Assembly has passed the Abia Real Estate, Landlords and Tenants Bill (H.A.B. 34 of 2025) into law, establishing a legal framework to regulate the state’s property sector while strengthening protections for landlords, tenants, and estate agents.

The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Augustine Okezie and Hon. Mandela Obasi, provides for the establishment of the Abia State Property and Tenancy Regulatory Authority to oversee tenancy administration, regulate the activities of property agents, and promote transparency and accountability in the real estate sector.

The legislation was passed during Monday’s plenary after consideration by the Committee of the Whole.

In addition to the Property and Tenancy Bill, lawmakers also passed three other major bills into law. They include the Abia State Criminal Law Bill (H.A.B. 1 of 2026), the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Bill (H.A.B. 2 of 2026), and the Abia State Restorative Justice Bill (H.A.B. 7 of 2026), all sponsored by the Majority Leader and Member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu.

The Criminal Law Bill seeks to modernise the state’s criminal laws by addressing gaps in the existing legal framework, promoting law and order, and enhancing the protection of lives and property.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Bill is expected to improve the state’s criminal justice system by ensuring the speedy dispensation of criminal cases, safeguarding the rights of complainants, defendants, suspects, and witnesses, and guaranteeing fair hearing for all parties.

The Restorative Justice Bill introduces measures to ensure that victims of crime receive appropriate redress and to require offenders to take responsibility for the harm caused, to promote justice, accountability, and reconciliation.

Announcing the passage of the four bills, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the laws would be deemed to have come into force on August 3, 2026, upon receiving the assent of Governor Alex Otti.

He congratulated members of the Assembly for the milestone, expressing confidence that the new laws would strengthen governance, improve justice delivery, and enhance property administration in Abia State.

The House also gave first reading to the Abia State Basic Environmental (Amendment No. 3) Bill, 2026, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Augustine Okezie.

In a related development, lawmakers adopted the report of the Joint Committee on Lands and Housing and Public Petitions on a petition by Mrs Elizabeth Uchenna Emezue seeking the return of her residential plot at Government Station Layout.

The Assembly further received the Abia State Financial Statement for the year ended 2025 from the Accountant General and referred it to the House Committee on Appropriation and Finance for legislative scrutiny before adjourning plenary.