Reps Reverse Decision on Death Penalty, Immunity clause bills

In a stunning turn of events, the House of Representatives has rescinded its decision on two bills that aimed to reform the death penalty law and strip immunity from the Offices of the Vice President, governors, and deputy governors, just 24 hours after they passed their second reading.

The decision was announced by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, during Thursday’s plenary session. The bills were part of 42 proposed legislations considered during plenary on Wednesday.

The move is seen as a significant setback for those advocating for the abolition of the death penalty and the removal of immunity for high-ranking government officials.

According to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session in the absence of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, the decision to rescind was made to allow for a more robust debate on the bills.

“We want to apologise to the sponsors of the bills, but this action is to enable the House to have a further debate considering the importance of the subject matters,” Kalu said.