ABUJA — A
Bill seeking absolute powers to solely initiate and execute impeachment
proceedings against a sitting President to rest with the National Assembly
Tuesday, scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Bill seeking absolute powers to solely initiate and execute impeachment
proceedings against a sitting President to rest with the National Assembly
Tuesday, scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The Bill is intended to amend section 143 of the 1999
Constitution.
Constitution.
Debate on the general principles of the Bill appeared as several
members were of the opinion that it was not necessary.
members were of the opinion that it was not necessary.
Surprisingly, however, the Bill passed second reading when
Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over plenary, put the
question to voice votes.
Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over plenary, put the
question to voice votes.
Sponsors of the bill were of the opinion that it would remove
“ambiguities in the process of removal of the President and Vice President from
office on allegations of gross misconduct and provide for more transparent and
democratic procedure for impeachment and other matters.”
“ambiguities in the process of removal of the President and Vice President from
office on allegations of gross misconduct and provide for more transparent and
democratic procedure for impeachment and other matters.”
Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (as amended) provided for the procedure of impeaching the President
and, or the Vice President.
Nigeria (as amended) provided for the procedure of impeaching the President
and, or the Vice President.
But promoters of the amendment Bill, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and
Chairman of the House Committee on the FCT, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, argued that
there were a lot of defects and ambiguities in section 143 of the 1999
Constitution.
Chairman of the House Committee on the FCT, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, argued that
there were a lot of defects and ambiguities in section 143 of the 1999
Constitution.
They also separately denied the assertion that the move was
targeted at impeaching President Goodluck Jonathan.
targeted at impeaching President Goodluck Jonathan.
Dogara, who quoted several foreign authorities to buttress the
justification of vesting the powers to impeach a sitting President exclusively
on the parliament, especially in America, argued that one of the defects in the
provision was the only basis to initiate impeachment proceedings against the
President, as enshrined in the constitution, was for “gross misconduct” which
he said was not clearly defined.
justification of vesting the powers to impeach a sitting President exclusively
on the parliament, especially in America, argued that one of the defects in the
provision was the only basis to initiate impeachment proceedings against the
President, as enshrined in the constitution, was for “gross misconduct” which
he said was not clearly defined.
In the opinion of Mr Jime, it was intended to address
constitutional challenges that the lawmakers were finding difficult to
challenge.
Section 143(11) reads; “In this section, ‘gross misconduct’ means a grave
violation or breach of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as
amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.”
constitutional challenges that the lawmakers were finding difficult to
challenge.
Section 143(11) reads; “In this section, ‘gross misconduct’ means a grave
violation or breach of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as
amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.”
Source: Vanguard
