The Senate has commenced the process of amending section 308 of the 1999 Constitution which gives immunity to president, vice president, governors and deputy governors in the country.

A bill sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (LP, Delta) on the immunity removal has been referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution amendment chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Daily Trust reports.

The bill proposed the substitution of subsection 308(2) which reads “the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party”, with a new section.

The proposed amendment reads, “the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to, (a) ‘civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party’.

It (b) part reads, “criminal proceedings connected to, related to or arising from economic and financial crimes”.

It’s sponsor, Omo-Agege said like in the US, the president and the VP, governors and their deputies should only be immune from civil actions arising from their official actions while in office.

“They are not entitled to immunity from litigation for actions not germane to their work. For example a president or governor who buys a car for a child and refuses to pay can be taken to court while in office,” he said.

“Also like in the US, there should be no immunity from criminal investigation or prosecution for crimes committed either before or while in office.

“Recall that Mr. Spiro Agnew while a sitting VP under President Nixon was tried and convicted for tax evasion while in office. Bill Clinton as a sitting president was hauled before a grand jury by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr for perjury (lying under oath) while in office as president.

“Finally, Elliot Spitzer as a sitting governor of New York was tried and convicted for illicit solicitation for sex”, he added.

The sponsor believe that if the amendment is passed, there will be sanity, transparency and accountability in the Executive Arm of government, especially “Treatment of our state resources which most of them currently treat as slush funds”.


http://dailypost.ng/2016/12/29/senate-remove-immunity-president-governors-deputies/

Liars


They are stylishly pressurizing executives to give Senate President immunity.

EdoNation:
IF THIS COMES TRU ALMOST ALL GOVERNERS GO ENTER KIRIKIRI

I doubt that. The party that has the Presidency will send opposition party to kirikiri. This is not a good move.

Anything that puts Buhari behind bars is ok for me

nonsense. I hate when USA is used as a yardstick in formulating our laws. Just sit down and ponder, how will Buhari use this law if passed. By now everyone would have left the country.

Some times I asked why Buhari is so lenient to this senethieves. They only make laws and recommendation that favors them. Initially they wanted to make laws that will give immunity to the senators which was rejected by Nigerians.

Story.

Story for the gods

They will later ammend it to include Immunity for Senators and Reps members...

I pray they pass the bill into law

Ok then.

Going by the proposal, I think this is a good move. I hope people would take time to read the passage before commenting or mentioning my post.

If a governor or President has used his office to influence people to do evil or take law into his own hand, he should be sent to court and bear his own cross.

With this, people in power would learn decorum. I hope this would be well-managed so that it would not disturb their constitutional duty nor disrupt government business.

let them start by reducing their(NASS) ridiculous allowances.

good move. This us the only way we can really fight corruption.

At last!

If this is allowed to the daylight, I guess it is a move towards a better naija.Only if ooo.

The Executive will fight it.

Mogbe

Can't happen in Obodo naija

The PDP senators will never allow it to pass.APC does not have the 2/3 majority to pass the bill.It is dead on arrival

A bill that will never be passed.

With the current politicians we have as Governors ND President, this project Is a Dead on Arrival one.

Just a confused set of leaders

It Wud further drive dis fragile nation into chaos,we ar not ready for dat as a nation.

If this work, that will be the only visible achievement of the Senate since 1999.

Likes of Ajomobi, aregbe dem are in trpuble



Foyose hOw market

Our all time Childish, Petty, Shameless and Corrupt senators are at it again.

Just because they are unable to get immunity for their corrupt leaders they resolved to their regular, childish and inordinate behaviors.

I see the handwriting of ev*l Saraki on this one.

God will judge them for being a 'Spanner' in the wheels of progress of this great nation.

Are u telling us or u r complaining cus I dont know were u stand. But for me this is change. lol

Still rich enough to pay people off lol they'll be fine. It's a start though

mikezuruki:

I doubt that. The party that has the Presidency will send opposition party to kirikiri. This is not a good move.

Meaning the opposition are criminals?