A Lagos-based lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu has asked a Federal High Court, Lagos to restrain the National Assembly (NASS) from sitting and debating for the purpose of passing into law any bill seeking to grant immunity and life pension to principal officers of the parliament.

Akingbolu, in an originating summons, said the move by the lawmakers is not only detrimental to the wellbeing of every citizen of the country but amounts to gross violation of constitutional provisions, which frown against corrupt practices and abuse of power, adding that it is also a coup against the people.

Apart from the National Assembly, other defendants to the suit are Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The plaintiff who formulated four questions for the court’s determination, argued that considering the provision of Section 14 (1) and (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which deals with the fundamental objective and directive principles of state policy to the effect that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, the move by the National Assembly to propose pension for its leaders at a time the nation’s economy is grounded and every citizen is complaining, was a violation of the Constitution.
While alluding to Sections 15 (5), 16 (1) (b), (2) (a) (b) and 17 (1) of the Constitution, Akingbolu argued that the proposed life pension and immunity laws by the federal lawmakers is a total departure from the provision of the constitution and would not only further impoverish the citizens as resources meant for common good would be concentrated in the hand of few individuals, but also encourage corrupt practices.

In a supporting affidavit, the lawyer accused the lawmakers of failing to take into consideration, the constitutional provision bordering on maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen of Nigeria based on social justice and equality of status and opportunity, before making the move to propose life pension and immunity for principal officers of the parliament.

He averred that the most painful aspect is the fact that the pension and immunity bills were being proposed at a time when the nation was groaning under the pain and burden of heavy debt brought about by bad leadership and corruption to the unfortunate state that government cannot pay salaries of workers at all levels.

He added that what the people need at the moment from the National Assembly are laws that will foster maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen, and not immunity and life pension laws.

“For decades, no member or officer of the National Assembly has been granted immunity and there was no harassment of the holders of the said offices. The move to immunize the officers of the National Assembly against liberty for offences while in office is anti-people and unconstitutional because every citizen of Nigeria is equal before the law.

“All over the world, there is nowhere the members of the legislature are granted immunity against offences and the granting of same is crude, archaic and an attempt to bring lawmakers above the people and the law,” Akingbolu said. No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

Culled from Guardian.Ng