The Senate has proposed a bill which calls for the withdrawal of immunity for the vice-president, governors and their deputies in the event where they misappropriate public funds.
Nigerian law provides immunity for the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies from criminal prosecution while in office, however, the bill proposes an amendment to alter Section 308 of the Principal Act by substituting subsection 2 with a new subsection.
The bill which is titled, ‘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’ was sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, who is also the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The bill reads in part,
“To persons who hold the office of Vice-President, Governor or Deputy Governor.
“If it is determined either by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Nigeria Police and Department of State Services through a collaborative investigation that the said person is indicted by a court of competent jurisdiction for:
“(i) Financial misappropriation of funds belonging to the Federal, State or Local Government; or
“(ii) Sponsoring of thugs to perpetrate violence that cause injury or death of political opponent, a member of his family, agent or personal representative.”
Leave a Reply