Monday, October 20, 2014

National Assemby Consider Dumping Immunity Clause


gej1
It looks like the constitutional immunity from prosecution enjoyed by the President, Vice-President, governors and their deputies while in office may soon be a thing of the past, as the House of Representatives have approved the removal of the clause from the constitution.

The House of Representatives, after deliberating on the recommendations made by its Committee on Constitution Review, have decided to the immunity clause, which protects the stated officials from prosecution while in office.
252 of the 261 of its members voted in favour of its removal, but the Senate and the legislative assemblies of states would have to approve the amendment before it can take effect.
According to Punch, some senators noted that since the issue was part of the amendments which the conference committee of both chambers of the National Assembly had agreed upon, the Senate would likely uphold the amended clause.
This provision was enshrined to forestall situations where the president or governors, are distracted from the business of government by court cases but if this amendment scales through, would it be a good thing?

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