The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has kicked against the passing of a bill which seeks to give leaders of federal and state legislatures immunity from prosecution for corruption.
In a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on Tuesday, SERAP described the move as “a blatant assault on the rule of law and breach of public trust.”
The organization called on the green chamber to immediately withdraw the bill, vowing to challenge the decision.
The statement read: “Providing immunity for presiding officers against crimes of corruption is tantamount to ripping up the constitution. It’s a blatant assault on the rule of law and breach of public trust.
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“The leadership of the House of Representatives must immediately withdraw this obnoxious bill. We will vigorously challenge this impunity.”
According to SERAP while countries like Guatemala has voted unanimously to strip their president of immunity from prosecution for corruption, “our own lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction.”
SERAP warned that if the lawmakers pass the bill into law, they would have succeeded in denying Nigerians of their rights to make leaders accountable to the people.
The bill which was sponsored by Odebunmi Olusegun was supported by the majority of the lawmakers who say it is important to safeguard the sanctity of the National Assembly.
