Pandemonium in House of Reps over immunity for Senate President, Speaker

The planned inclusion of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives among public officers to enjoy immunity on Tuesday threw the Lower Chamber into a rowdy session.

Noting that only the President, Vice President, Governors and their deputies presently enjoy immunity, the Minority leader of the House of Reps, Leo Ogor called for the amendment of Section 308.

He advocated the inclusion of the leaders of the National Assembly.

The Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, however, objected, stressing that in other climes, heads of parliament do not enjoy immunity. He argued that even if it would work, the timing was wrong especially now that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki is facing trials.

This sparked a rowdy session in the House. The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara abruptly ended debate and referred the bill to the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Amendment headed by the Deputy Speaker,Yussuff Lasun.