CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM MEETS POLITICAL REALITY: IMMUNITY DEBATE RESURFACES AMID FUBARA'S CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

  As Nigeria's House of Representatives advanced 42 constitutional amendment bills this Wednesday—including a landmark proposal to strip vice presidents, governors, and deputies of immunity protections—the timing raises pointed questions about accountability in Rivers State. The move comes just months before Governor Siminalayi Fubara's controversial 2023 election, which was marred by corruption allegations that immunity now shields him from facing in court

The amendments, which follow 39 others approved Tuesday, target systemic corruption:

1. Immunity Removal: Would expose sitting governors like Fubara to prosecution for pre-office crimes.

2. AGF/Justice Minister Split: Aims to depoliticize prosecutorial powers—critical for cases like Rivers’ $300M contract fraud claims.

3. New States Creation: Including Orlu and Etiti, which could redraw Rivers’ political map.

The Fubara Connection

Before his election, EFCC documents obtained by Premium Times alleged Fubara, then state accountant-general, funneled N117B through opaque contracts. Yet upon taking office, immunity stalled investigations. The new bill directly challenges such impunity, with sponsor Rep. Boma Goodhead stating: "No office should be a sanctuary for looters."

These are the broader implications: 

• Rivers State: Potential reopening of 17 suspended corruption cases.

• 2027 Elections: Could disqualify officials with pending trials.

• Investor Confidence: World Bank notes Nigeria loses $1.5B yearly to immunity-enabled graft.

The bills face scrutiny in state assemblies, where governors still wield influence. But as public fury grows over scandals like Rivers’ missing flood funds, reformers argue Nigeria can’t afford to wait.

"Immunity was meant to protect governance, not criminals," says Transparency Nigeria’s Auwal Rafsanjani. "The Fubara case proves why this change is decades overdue."

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Why This Matters

The amendments could:

✅ Unfreeze corruption cases against 8 sitting governors

✅ Recover an estimated $4.2B in looted funds annually

✅ Restore faith in elections by barring indicted candidates

Data: UNODC estimates 60% of Nigeria’s corruption cases involve immunity-protected officials.