Sitting President or Government who commits any crime can be Arrested - Femi Falana

Femi Falana says a sitting president or governor who commits any crime can be arrested and tried, saying according to the Supreme Court ruling, there was no longer absolute immunity. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said immunity does not extend to electoral fraud and asked Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu to face the forgery charges against them rather than politicking about it, saying “they have no immunity to dodge the charges against them.’’.

He said this while speaking on: “Limit of executive immunity” in Benin to mark the 60th birthday of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Edo, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere

"The senate is now politicising the issue, saying it is political victimization but not that the offence was not committed. As leaders of the National Assembly, you are supposed to be above board and that is even the more reason you must be careful.

“But I want to remind the senate that the Attorney General of the Federation is only answerable to his boss, who is the president and nobody else.

“The same thing applies to the states, so there is no longer absolute immunity in this country.

“And that is why what is happening in Ekiti today about money found in a bank and the governor is saying it is illegal to freeze his account that is not true.

“Any issue that is criminal in nature must be treated as such,” he declared.

[NAN]