The Senate yesterday distanced itself from moves by the House of Representatives to grant immunity to legislators in the country, declaring that such proposal would be turned down if presented to the Senate. Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe, told Senate correspondents at a briefing that the immunity already granted by the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act was adequate, hence seeking further immunity was misplaced.
LEADERSHIP recalls that Representatives had last week passed for second reading a Bill sponsored by Hon. Ali Ahmed (Kwara, PDP) seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to grant immunity to legislators in the country. Proponents said granting of immunity to lawmakers would not only strengthen democracy but allow members to speak freely without fear of molestation or litigation.
But Abaribe said, “I think that the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act already gives every legislator immunity for whatever you said on the floor of the chamber, so that is already a settled law and fact.”
It (immunity Bill) has not been brought to the floor of the Senate yet... I will be very surprised if somebody is asking for immunity outside of the chambers of the National Assembly. Why will anybody ask for such because we do not want to grant anybody such immunity?
“I do not think that will pass the floor of the Senate, because whatever you say inside there, is already covered under the Privileges Act. If we see such a bill, then we consider the merit and whatever anybody will bring to us, saying what we have now is inadequate, that is when we will consider the Bill...No legislator should seek immun
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