Adoke opposes state police, immunity clause removal

Speaking yesterday, Adoke said if the immunity clause is removed from the constitution, incumbent office holders would be so distracted and would not be able to focus on governance.   On state police, the minister, represented by CLO/Ag., Mr. Patrick Etta Oyong, simply said “state police should be rejected. The police should remain an arm […]

Speaking yesterday, Adoke said if the immunity clause is removed from the constitution, incumbent office holders would be so distracted and would not be able to focus on governance.

 

On state police, the minister, represented by CLO/Ag., Mr. Patrick Etta Oyong, simply said “state police should be rejected. The police should remain an arm of the Federal Government”.

He also advocated devolution of powers from the federal government to states and local governments that would be reflected on the composition of the exclusive, concurrent and residual legislative lists.

On judiciary, the minister suggested that appeals on interlocutory matters should terminate at the Appeal Court except for decisions in criminal proceedings. This, according to him, is to prevent the Supreme Court from being loaded with interlocutory matters which do not dispose of the final claims of the parties.

He said: “The constitution of the Supreme Court should be increased to 11 justices provided that it will sit as a full court when considering an appeal where any person is sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal or the court of appeal has affirmed a sentence of death and the validity of election of the president or vice president, term of office of president or vice president and vacancy of the office of president or vice president.”

He said election petitions should be determined by a High Court presided by the chief judge of another state and two senior judges of the High Court of the state because judges are disciplined and conscious of their integrity more than other members who may be easily influenced.