Chairman House Committee on Human Right and member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Edward Pwajok (SAN), has explained that the immunity bill pass for legislature during the constitutional amendment does not protect legislators of criminal offences.

He said any legislator who commits criminal offences or violate human right of any individual can be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.

Hon. Pwajok disclosed this during an interaction with his constituents in Jos, and explained that the Immunity for Legislators was initiated to enable members of the National and States Assembly to express their views freely during plenary devoid of litigations and harassment from the executives.

“The bill that provides immunity for legislature was pass by the Senate and the House of Representative during the constitutional amendment to protect legislators from certain utterances during plenary but does not protect any legislator against criminal offences.

“It is only the President and Governors that cannot be dragged to court for criminal offences because of the respect for the office but any legislator who commit crime or violate human right of an individual would be arrested and prosecuted in line with the law, our immunity does not protected us of criminal matters.”

Hon. Pwajok who gave vivid explanation of how the Senate and House of Representatives voted during the constitutional amendment, was worried that the bill on devolution of power did not scale through during voting at the Senate and House of Representatives.

He said if the legislators had voted in favour of devolution of power, Nigerians wouldn’t have been fraying nerves and channeling their energy towards agitating for restructuring.

Pwajok added that the National Assembly have to revisit the bill on devolution of power in the next constitutional amendment to address the public out cry for marginalization from different regions of the country.

He said the bill on independent candidature which requires the endorsement of States Houses of Assembly will strengthen internal democracy in the political system as individuals will be given the constitutional backing to contest election where there is injustice and imposition during party primaries.

Former Nigeria Ambassador to Ukraine, Ibrahim Kasai and National President of Afizere Cultural and Community Development, Luka Madaki, applauded Hon. Pwajok for quality representation in the House of Representatives.

Amb. Kasi said they are proud to identify with Pwajok who has stood firmly in defence of women, youths and the vulnerable persons in the society, being a member of 10 committees and chairman of House Committee on Human Right.

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Immunity for legislature does not protect members of criminal offences – Barr. Edward Pwajok