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Nigeria: IMMUNITY: In Defense of a Review
Crafted and provided as an open-ended protection, the immunity clause at present, provides a loophole that breeds criminals in power as it gives latitude to boldly, with impunity commit crime against the state and the people. Given this palpable danger, it is apparently clear that the immunity clause as presently provided can no longer serve the need of contemporary Nigerian politics. It needs to be reviewed in line with emerging and contemporary realities. Any attempt to side-step or reject the call for a genuine and sincere review of the clause in the light of mounting kleptocratic activities of our thieving political elite is a disservice to the nation, a betrayal of public trust, and the power people repose in representative democracy. We cannot let this to continue. Tell the Nigerian National Assembly to review the Immunity Clause!
Background
Immunity clause, as presently enshrined in the Nigerian constitution with its attendant problem of deferring punishment of an offender to an arbitrary future day rather than immediate punishment at the point of abusing an office, is a tortured issue that merits reconsideration at the on-going review of the 1999 constitution by the National Assembly. This is because the original purpose for which the clause was meant to serve has been hijacked and largely turned into an engine of fraud. While the original intention for its inclusion in the Nigerian constitution was good, politicians have corrupted and bastardized the well-reasoned privilege, and willfully undermine the wisdom behind the grant of immunity to the detriment of Nigerians.
CIAN Mandate Nigeria is a State Party to International Convention Against Corruption, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, in addition to relevant provisions of its constitution. Therefore, the authorities are obligated and charged with the responsibility to prevent, prosecute and penalize economic and financial crimes.
Your ACTION Please send the sample letter by e‐mail or ordinary mail to the Senator Dino Melaye, to demand a review of the Immunity Clause in line with emerging and contemporary realities in order to take care of the loopholes and check the new wave of stealing our commonwealth. Please send a copy of your letter to the CIAN, who will submit the letters to the Inter‐American Commission on Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteurs, European Union institutions and other intergovernmental authorities. Please inform CIAN if you receive a response to your letters
Please, Let us know you took action
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Please, inform CIAN if you receive a response to your letters.
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Take Action: Write a Letter, send an Email, Call, send SMS, Fax or Tweet
1. The Immunity Clause should not be made to cover fraud, corruption, embezzlement, and vindictive tendencies in government.
2. The Immunity Clause should be reviewed to include prompt arrest and trial of any incumbent executive found polluting the Excellency and stealing our common patrimony.
3. Since graft in whatever forms wrought the same effect as overthrowing the sovereign, offenders should be charged with treasonable felony against the state.
Please, send your letter immediately
Send letter to: Copy to: Copy to
National Assembly Complex CIAN International Secretariat
Federal Capital Territory, 11655 Briar Forest Drive,
Abuja Houston Tx 77077
Nigeria United States
Email: info@nass.gov.ng Tel: +1‐910-476-CIAN
Email:ed@ciancenter.org
Sample Letter – Copy this letter in your email and send
Dear Distinguished Senator Dino,
I would like to express my deep concern over how the Immunity Clause which has been turned into an engine of fraud.
Nigeria is a State Party to International Convention Against Corruption, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, in addition to relevant provisions of its constitution. Therefore, the authorities are obligated and charged with the responsibility to prevent, prosecute and penalize economic and financial crimes. In the light of this, I urge the Distinguished Senator to demand that:
1. The clause should not be made to cover fraud, corruption, embezzlement, and vindictive tendencies in government.
2. The clause should be reviewed to include prompt arrest and trial of any incumbent executive found polluting the Excellency and stealing our common patrimony.
3. Since graft in whatever forms wrought the same effect as overthrowing the sovereign, offenders should be charged with treasonable felony against the state.
Fill the form and send to -office@ciancenter.org
