A bill seeking to extend immunity to cover Presiding Officers of Legislative Institutions which has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives and has been applauded by majority of the lawmakers who view it as crucial in safeguarding the sanctity of the National Assembly has received condemnation by some Nigerians especially the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Responding to the bill sponsored by Odebunmi Olusegun, Deputy Director of SERAP Kolawole Oluwadare, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Feb. 25, revealed that the bill is capable of ripping up the nation's constitution. The organization, therefore, called on the lower chamber to withdraw the bill right away, promising to challenge the move. The organization argued that countries like Guatemala have voted unanimously to strip their president of immunity from prosecution for corruption, while Nigeria's lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction. The group cautioned that should the lawmakers have their way bypassing the bill into law, they will invariably be denying Nigerians of their rights to make leaders accountable to the people.