News

‘Immunity Clause Has Done More Harm’

Published

14 years ago

May 23, 2012

The former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prof. Peter Nwangwu, says the Immunity Clause in the 1999 Constitution should be removed because “it has done more harm than good”.

Nwangwu said in Lagos that its removal would serve more benefits to the nation.

He said: “No political office holder, including governors and the president, should have immunity while in office.

“Immunity from any criminal offence, including stealing or breaking the law in anyway, should not be allowed.

“The provision has been abused repeatedly with impunity, so the country needs it so as to fight corruption in high places.”

The former presidential candidate said politicians and leaders would be a lot more careful about doing things in office if the Immunity Clause was removed.

“Anyone who does not like the removal should stay away from serving in that capacity since the nation will be better for it.’’

He stressed that the more fundamental question was whether the judiciary and law enforcement officials had the mindset and the political will to prosecute and punish offenders severely.

He, however, said the “mess’’ in the nation’s corruption scandals and abuses had been committed by people who did not have immunity.

Nwangwu said such abuses included the mess in privatisation by the Bureau of Public Enterprise, the fuel subsidy probe, the banking sector, the stock market crisis and the police pension funds scandal.

He said the corrupt system did not allow proper punishment for people without immunity who committed crimes for which they should be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.

The politician said said if the immunity clause was removed, offending governors and presidents would be prosecuted and punished properly.

“I speak as a former presidential candidate who was ranked 6th out of the 20 candidates in the 2011 elections, even after stepping down for Jonathan.

“I insist that there should be no Immunity Clause for presidents and governors.’’

A public analyst and a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Ikechukwu Unegbe, also said he supported the removal of the clause.

He said it would be only on matters pertaining to criminal and financial crimes.

“In other words, we should maintain immunity clause on matters that are purely civil in nature; so this way, it will be difficult for persons to sue protected officers over personal civil matters.

“But on criminal and financial matters, where a prima facie case has been established against the officers, they should not enjoy immunity.

“You cannot allow a criminal to run the state or the nation.’’

He expressed the view that immunity clause would not distract any political office holder while in office.

“Do not forget that each governor and president took Oath of Office.

“If you go and read the words of the Oath, you will see that anyone who breaches it should not be allowed to stay a day longer in office.’’

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

20 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

20 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

20 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.