Reps withdraw bill seeking to strip VP, governors, deputies of immunity

The House of Representatives has withdrawn the proposed amendment bill to Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution seeking to strip the vice president, governors and deputy governors of immunity. The bill scaled second reading on Wednesday.
House leader, Julius Ihonvbere of the All Progressives Congress, from Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State, during plenary on Thursday, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, moved the motion to withdraw and halt the bill’s passage.
The proposed legislation read, “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to qualify the immunity conferred on the President, remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate Impunity and enhance accountability in public office and for Related Matters.’’
The bill, sponsored by House member, Solomon Bob, of the Peoples Democratic Party from Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Constituency, was among the 42 that passed second reading on Wednesday.
However, Mr Kalu, said the sensitive nature of the bill, prompted the lawmakers’ decision to rescind the bill, to enable them to thoroughly debate it before passing it, following the controversy that trailed its second reading on Wednesday.
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