When the immunity of governors becomes an authorization for impunity, abuses

THE immunity clause In THE 1999 Constitution isolated THE president And governors Since Distractions while In desk. However, he East fast become A flexibility For impunity And A fortress Since THE long arm of THE law, breeding concerns among Nigerians, KEHINDE OLATUNJI reports.

Nigerian presidents, governors And their deputies are protected against police Stop Or pursuit In court When they are In desk. THE essence East has avoid distraction SO they can to focus on governance instead of expose their Actions In desk has dispute.

THE editors of THE 1999 Constitution believe that chief executive officers of THE States deserve protection And peace of spirit has be concentrate on THE serious business of deliver dividends of democracy has THE people.

Section 308 of THE 1999 Constitution subsection (2) States that: "No civil Or criminal procedure duty be instituted Or continued against A person has Who This section applies during her period of desk; A person has Who This section applies duty not be stopped Or detained during that period either In pursuit of THE process of any of them court Or Otherwise; And No process of any of them court demanding Or convincing THE appearance of A person has Who This section applies, duty be applied For Or issued. »

However, a lot State governors to have leverage This clause And used their immunity has blanket up For their allies Or ancient the governors, WHO to have lost immunity In A criminal infraction.

THE melodrama that occurred has THE Abuja residence of Yahaya Good morning, THE immediate pass governor of Kogi State, on April 17, 2024, which implied THE Men of THE Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trying has earn entrance In her House has effect her Stop, was A ugly incident that has Again sets off THE debate on if THE executives should continue has appreciate immunity Since pursuit And legal action.

THE EFCC had arrived has At Bello House has about 9:00 a.m. am. has apprehend him but were encounter with rigid resistance Since THE police officers And security agents guard her House. But has about 2:30 p.m. p.m. of THE even day, Kogi State governor, Ousman Ododo, arrived has THE scene with her following of strongly armed security Men And aids. He was allowed has go In with her official car, while her entourage expected outside.

About two hours later, Ododo car zoomed out of THE local through A unmanned exit, In A manner that suggested he had taken Bello along with him. THE EFCC agents WHO were parked has THE scene could not stop Ododo Since whip Bello far just because he East A of THE thirty six governors enjoy immunity. From SO, LANGUAGES to have has been stirring And a lot are ask if A Nigerian governor has THE power has interfere with THE operations of security agencies.

THE EFCC Actions came as A result of A in progress legal battle between Bello And THE commission, including A amended charge alleging money whitening has THE adjust of N84 billion.The EFCC accused Bello of infringe of trust, And diversion of funds, with Bello Currently has large.

Governor Ododo action was not THE First of all time A session governor would be stay In THE path of THE security agencies has prevent THE Stop of their allies.

A similar scenario arrived In 2017 In Ékiti State, When ancient Governor Ayodele Fayôsé stop THE agents of THE Department of State Services (DSS) Since Stop THE founder of THE Omega Fire Ministries Global, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, In Teen Ekiti.

THE Pastor, WHO was In Ékiti For A two days crusade, was alleged has to have preached against Islamizing Nigeria And request members of her church In Auchi, Edo State has resist murders by suspected Fulani shepherds.

Fayose, WHO had participated on THE First of all day of THE program, received A distress call Since THE pastor After paid A courtesy call has THE Government Home. THE agents of THE DSS had stormed THE hotel bedroom of THE pastor In THE Adebayo area of THE State capital And almost strength their path has her room.

They were, However, resisted by security Men of THE hotel that insisted on awareness their assignment. Minutes later, Fayôsé directed A rescue assignment has THE hotel And stop THE pastor Since be stopped by THE agents.

Fayôsé said: "I assisted her crusade And I think he East fake For A man of God, WHO East without arms, has be guest has be ambushed. If they to have any of them problems against him. Are the Christians And Muslims below different exemptions of THE ruler of law? It is Why I went there has rescue him. To leave them kill two of We together. But, When they saw My Vehicles And THE crowd, they escaped. »

Also In 2020, ancient Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State stopped security agents Since Stop A ancient Acting Manager Director of THE Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joy Nunieh, For fail has appear Before A Home of Representatives sign survey THE alleged fraud has NDDC.

THE security...