How Buhari & Governors can be Arrested, Tried Even with Their Immunity — Senior Advocate Falana

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has said the era of absolute immunity had gone and that President Muhammadu Buhari, his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo and governors could be arrested even while in office and taken for trials if they commit criminal act.

Mr. Falana said this while speaking on: “Limit of executive immunity” in Benin to mark the 60th birthday of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Edo, Prof. Julius Ihonvebere.

He also urged Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu to face the forgery charges against them rather than politicking about it, saying “they have no immunity to dodge the charges against them.’’

Falana said that even for those who have immunity, it did not extend to electoral fraud.

Falana said according to a Supreme Court ruling, there was no absolute immunity. Hence governors involved in criminal charges, including the leadership of the National Assembly must face the law.

He faulted the invitation extended to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, by the leadership of the senate over the forgery allegation against the senate president and his deputy.

“The senate is now politicising the issue, saying it is political victimization but not that the offence was not committed.

“As leaders of the National Assembly, you are supposed to be above board and that is even the more reason you must be careful.

“But I want to remind the senate that the Attorney General of the Federation is only answerable to his boss, who is the president and nobody else.

“The same thing applies to the states, so there is no longer absolute immunity in this country.

“And that is why what is happening in Ekiti today about money found in a bank and the governor is saying it is illegal to freeze his account that is not true.

“Any issue that is criminal in nature must be treated as such,” he declared.