Governance & Public Sector

Immunity Clause (Constitutional Amendment) Bill

Alters section 308 to strip immunity from the Vice President, state governors and their deputies (and qualify the President's), so they can be prosecuted while in office. Passed second reading in the House (Mar 2025); at the Constitution Review Committee.

Awaiting
Passage by House + Senate (2/3 each)
Last cleared
Referred to Constitution Review Committee · 2025
Status
Pending — not yet law

Where it stands

This is a bill, not a signed Act. It must clear every step below before becoming law.

Bill introduced (House, Solomon Bob)
2025
Done
House Second Reading
2025-03
Done
Referred to Constitution Review Committee
2025
Done
4
Passage by House + Senate (2/3 each)
pending
Pending
5
Ratification by 2/3 of state assemblies
pending
Pending
6
Presidential assent
pending
Pending

1 Background

Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution shields the President, Vice President, governors and their deputies from civil or criminal proceedings while in office. Sponsored by Hon. Solomon Bob, this alteration bill would remove that immunity for the Vice President (except when acting as President), state governors and their deputies, and qualify the immunity attaching to the President — the aim being to curb impunity and let anti-graft agencies act against sitting officials. It passed second reading in the House of Representatives in March 2025 and was referred to the Committee on the Review of the Constitution, where it sits among the wider Sixth Alteration proposals. It needs two-thirds passage in both chambers plus ratification by at least 24 state assemblies before assent.

2 Key provisions (4)

01
Amends section 308 (immunity clause) of the 1999 Constitution
02
Removes immunity for the VP (except when acting as President), governors and deputies
03
Qualifies the President's immunity
04
Would permit prosecution of covered officials while in office

3 What changed in practice

Would end the blanket shield sitting governors and deputies enjoy from prosecution
Strengthens the hand of anti-corruption agencies during a term of office

4 Who it affects

Vice PresidentState governors & deputiesAnti-graft agencies (EFCC/ICPC)Courts

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