₦airaland Forum

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor, who proposed immunity for presiding officers of National Assembly and state assemblies in this interview with JOHN AMEH states why he decided to sponsor the bill.You proposed a controversial amendment to the 1999 Constitution seeking immunity for National Assembly/State Assembly presiding officers. What is the aim?The amendment is purely on Section 308 of the constitution, which grants immunity to the President, the Vice-President, State Governors and Deputy Governors. I am convinced beyond reasonable doubts that as lawmakers, there is a very strong need for us to have a critical analysis of this constitutional provision; how did it come about, what does it intend to achieve? What is the mischief that this section intends addressing? That is when you can appreciate where I am coming from. The 1999 Constitution was authored by the military and the most important thing you need to appreciate here is that the military back then played the role of the executive. Anytime they usurped power, the first place they wanted to sack was the National Assembly. In authoring the constitution, they granted immunity to the executive in line with the positions that they had been holding. The ideology of immunity is to avoid unnecessary distractions. The essence of avoiding distractions is to serve what I will probably call the national interest. As the President, a President is saddled with protecting the national interest, same for the governor. From what we have experienced so far, vis-a-vis what is happening right now at the National Assembly, specifically the Senate, not referring to Senator Bukola Saraki as a person or Senator Ike Ekweremadu, it becomes important that we enact laws that are protective of the institution of the legislature. The whole idea, therefore, is to make sure that the presiding officer, who is saddled with the responsibility of presiding over the Senate or the House of Representatives, is properly shielded against unnecessary harassment.It goes the other way to reaffirm the independence of the legislature. People should see the argument behind this concept; it is to protect the legislature and guard against the unnecessary harassment and intimidation that we are seeing presently. This is also to make sure that in line with our criminal jurisprudence, if a man is found wanting, after his tenure, he will still face trial. This is the same provision that the President, VP, governors, down to deputy governors enjoy. For a man who presides over such a big institution as the National Assembly, it is only fair to give him protection.But to Nigerians, this amendment is self-serving. No. You see, I have told you clearly that it is in the interest of the institution, it is not self-serving. It is not for Leo Ogor; it is for the presiding officers. It is for the Senate President, Speaker of the House, the Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker and presiding officers of state legislatures. It reaffirms the independence of the legislature and shows very clearly that you can be firm in adhering to the oath of allegiance which you swore to uphold. But, where you can easily be intimidated, coerced or forced to take actions or inaction that you do not want to take, who are we deceiving? What do you say to the insinuations that this amendment was influenced by presiding officers of the Senate to frustrate their ongoing prosecution? Let me laugh at them and laugh at the ignorance being expressed in situations like this. When you propose an amendment, it is intended to correct some mischief. Look at what is happening in the Senate. My amendment is to address that issue so that it doesn’t happen to another person tomorrow. It is to strengthen the independence of this democratic institution, the National Assembly. For example, if Saraki is not there tomorrow, and we have a President who is extremely dictatorial, he may even order the police, which is under the executive, to arrest and detain a Senate President. At the end of the day, he will install whoever he wants to install. But, if that particular Senate President has immunity, he knows he cannot arrest him. He knows that it is a separate arm of government. This is not about the person of Saraki; I am talking of the office of the Senate President, which will continue to exist after Saraki. So, Saraki has nothing to do with it. What the Saraki issue has thrown up, you may say, is the exposure of the institution to clear threats and danger. You saw the scenario where the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President were in court on the same day. Was that meant to cripple the legislative business of the day? National interest must prevail above individual and personal interest at all times. People should appreciate what this amendment intends to achieve and stop looking at it from a very parochial perspective.

Trashy trash!

DropShot:
Trashy trash!

Why is it trash

IVORY2009:
Why is it trash

Because the legislators have an indefinite nunber of years they can spend in office unlike the presidency and governors who have at most, 8 years and can be tried after that.

A legislator can be in office for 20 years, manipulate the electoral process to keep his/her immunity. It makes mokery of the Constitution. Imagine one person having lifetime immunity, that is the definition of madness

I agree with Honorable Leo Ogor to the letter. Seconded by me.

Nobody should enjoy criminal immunity in Nigeria. From the President down to the deputy governor

Dead On Arrival...

It will NEVER FLY... NEVER

Mynd44:
Because the legislators have an indefinite nunber of years they can spend in office unlike the presidency and governors who have at most, 8 years and can be tried after that.

A legislator can be in office for 20 years, manipulate the electoral process to keep his/her immunity. It makes mokery of the Constitution. Imagine one person having lifetime immunity, that is the definition of madness

i concur but there should be no immunity for criminal matters

I think some of us also need immunity from ban in Nairaland too

Mynd44:
Because the legislators have an indefinite nunber of years they can spend in office unlike the presidency and governors who have at most, 8 years and can be tried after that.

A legislator can be in office for 20 years, manipulate the electoral process to keep his/her immunity. It makes mokery of the Constitution. Imagine one person having lifetime immunity, that is the definition of madness

no level

Fedayeen02:
Nobody should enjoy criminal immunity in Nigeria. From the President down to the deputy governor

President and Vice deserve immunity but not Governors and Deputies.

A for Ogor and co-travellers, instead of them to amend the constitution to allow for Federalist state, they are pursuing self-interest.

If he is unsatisfied with the status quo then he should resign and go home. it is not a must abeg

TonyeBarcanista:
President and Vice deserve immunity but not Governors and Deputies.

A for Ogor and co-travellers, instead of them to amend the constitution to allow for Federalist state, they are pursuing self-interest.

If he is unsatisfied with the status quo then he should resign and go home. it is not a must abeg

i support immunity from civil cases but when criminal cases are involved let the law enforcement agencies start prosecution before the trail goes cold, evidence destroyed or witnesses bought or intimidated

Fedayeen02:
i support immunity from civil cases but when criminal cases are involved let the law enforcement agencies start prosecution before the trail goes cold, evidence destroyed or witnesses bought or intimidated

Presidents and Prime Ministers Worldwide can never be tried until they leave office. However, We need to divorce the office of Attorney-General from the office of Justice Minister. The AGF should be nominated by the President on recommendation by the national judicial council, and approved by the Senate. He should be completely non partisan. Should the President commit crime, he can establish it, send to the NASS and suggest the President be removed to face trial or wait till the President leaves office.





But I doubt if our Nigeria will consider it

TonyeBarcanista:
Presidents and Prime Ministers Worldwide can never be tried until they leave office. However, We need to divorce the office of Attorney-General from the office of Justice Minister. The AGF should be nominated by the President on recommendation by the national judicial council, and approved by the Senate. He should be completely non partisan. Should the President commit crime, he can establish it, send to the NASS and suggest the President be removed to face trial or wait till the President leaves office.





But I doubt if our Nigeria will consider it

i concur but we need to fight corruption in a different manner from what is obtainable outside our shores because thee amamount of sleaze committed by our officials is mind boggling

Dis leo or watever shud wait when they get dia biafra he can even give immunity to drug pushers but for nigeria we will even remove dat of d president and govs after buhari second term•To hell with all enemies nigeria

IVORY2009:
Why is it trash

is so annoying seeing a sane man spewing trash

I have been supportive of Saraki at this trying time but we should not change the law to suit 1 man

IVORY2009:
Why is it trash

This is no trash my friend. Let's try to dissect topics before jumping to conclusions.

Can you take your mind back to Obasanjo's era when Senate Presidents(Wabara, Okadigbo, Anyim etc) were removed unceremoniously from office as a result of frosty Executive-Legislature relationship? If the President, Governors and their deputies can enjoy some protection from unnecessary distractions, Senate leadership should also be saved from the strangle of Executive victimization. What's good for the goose is also good for the gander. Chikenna.