The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend provisions of the constitution to qualify criminal charges for some public officers under Section 308. The section provides immunity for sitting President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies.
If the proposed legislation is passed, Vice President, Governors and their deputies would lose immunity from criminal liability where the offence involves misappropriation of public funds or incitement of violence. The amendment however, does not affect a sitting President.
According to the Bill sponsored by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, the act provides for qualification of the immunity clause to exclude immunity for Public Officers referred to in section 308 from criminal liability where the offence involves misappropriation of funds belonging to the Federal, State or Local Government and also the use of thugs to foment violence.
