A former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Justice Mustapha Akanbi (retd.), has kicked against immunity for the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors and other political office holders.
Akanbi also opposed immunity in whatever form for members of the National Assembly.
Akanbi, a former President of the Court of Appeal, said granting immunity to anyone meant that the person had been placed above the law.
He said such was “unnecessary and unhealthy.”
He said, “Even those who are enjoying immunity now, I am opposed to it. I am opposed to immunity for the president, the vice-president, the governors, their deputies and others. The rate at which stealing [of public funds] and corruption are going on is because they cannot be taken to court until they have left office.
“I believe immunity is placing them above the law of the land. If you have immunity, you can do anything with impunity. I think that is wrong. It does not help the democratic process.
“Immunity for the president, governors and others should be removed. Let them account for their actions while in office; after all, they do not just rush them to court, they look at what they have done. If there is no evidence to support wrongdoing, then they do not have problem. They have problem only if they have done something wrong.”
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