A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State and Former Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr Chidi Lloyd, has blasted the National Assembly for encouraging a law that will grant constitutional immunity to presiding officers and those of the State legislatures.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, over the weekend, Lloyd expressed surprise that federal lawmakers would be taking steps to enable such a law when the country is going through security challenges.
He said the APC members in NASS are going after what is not in the interest of the public, arguing that such a consideration by the national lawmakers dominated by members of the ruling APC is self-serving, shameful and an indication that they don’t represent the interest of the Nigerian people.
He said: “The move by the National Assembly to amend section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can only be described as self-serving and an indication that those leaders do not represent our interest.
“It is shameful and preposterous that this kind of legislation should be considered by an APC-led administration”.
He called on the lawmakers to learn from their colleagues in Guatemala where the parliament in that country recently enacted a law stripping its President of immunity from criminal prosecution.
“It is indeed disheartening that a National Assembly of Nigeria would be considering a legislation of this matter when the parliament of Guatemala recently passed a legislation stripping its President from immunity from criminal prosecution. We have chosen to move in the opposite direction as usual.”
