In a surprise move, the House of Representatives has reversed its decision on a bill that sought to remove immunity from the Vice President, governors, and their deputies. This sudden change of heart came after Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere introduced a motion on Thursday, prompting lawmakers to reconsider their stance.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The bill, which had already passed its second reading, aimed to amend Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. It proposed keeping immunity for the President but removing it for other top executive officials. Supporters of the bill, including its sponsor Solomon Bob, argued that ending immunity for these officials would strengthen the fight against corruption and promote accountability.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session, explained that the reversal was necessary to allow for a more in-depth debate by lawmakers. He apologized to the sponsors of the bill, noting that the decision would allow the House to engage in further deliberations, given the importance and significance of the subject matter.
The move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing constitutional review process. The House of Representatives had initially approved the bill for a second reading during Wednesday’s plenary session, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and sent it to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further deliberation.