A bill seeking to scrap constitutional immunity enjoyed by president, vice president, state governors and their deputies has passed second reading at the Nigerian Senate.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan presided over plenary today when the bill was called up for deliberations.
It is sponsored by the deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege and titled: “A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to qualify criminal liability for certain public officers under Section 308.”
The proposed bill provides that a President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors as mentioned in section 308(3) shall lose their immunity if they are investigated by security and anti-graft agencies, including the courts.
“This act provides for qualification of the immunity clause to exclude immunity for Public Officers referred to in Section 308 from criminal liability where the offence involves misappropriation of funds belonging to the Federal, State or Local Government and also the use of thugs to foment violence,” the explanatory memorandum of the draft law read.
