The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has criticised the passing of a bill seeking to give leaders of federal and state legislatures immunity from prosecution for corruption.
This follows the second reading passing of ‘Bill for an Act to Alter Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Extend Immunity to Cover Presiding Officers of Legislative Institutions,’ sponsored by Olusegun Odebunmi of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by Kolawole Oluwadare, its Deputy Director, SERAP described the bill as a breach of public trust and is akin to ripping up of the country’s constitution.
The organisation, therefore, called on the lower chamber to immediately withdraw the bill, vowing to challenge the decision.
“Providing immunity for presiding officers against crimes of corruption is tantamount to ripping up the constitution. It’s a blatant assault on the rule of law and breach of public trust.
“The leadership of the House of Representatives must immediately withdraw this obnoxious bill. We will vigorously challenge this impunity,” the statement read.
SERAP added that “countries like Guatemala has voted unanimously to strip their president of immunity from prosecution for corruption, our own lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction”.
The group warned that if the lawmakers have their way by passing the bill into law, they will succeed in denying Nigerians of their rights to make leaders accountable to the people.
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