By Kayode Oladeji
I disagree with a clause in the proposed law seeking to legalize the operations of Amotekun. The offensive clause states that its officers can NOT be SUED for anything they do while on duty. This is an immunity clause, and a dangerous one at that. Pure and simple.
Don’t we think it’s a subtle invitation to self-destruct, and an end to a mission even before it takes off?
Don’t we think some of the officers can hide under the banner of this clause to do and undo in settling personal scores? Or, are those drafting the law saying even if the Amotekun officers in the course of their duty, wrongly molest, maim or kill, they are free or covered?
Methinks this kind of law will only help in creating monsters in the system when it becomes operational. These are part of the things we complain about in the Nigerian system.
Please, let our legal minds look into this area very well before it becomes operational.
Afterall, it is a universal legal provision that any individual or body corporate has the right to sue and BE SUED. Wholeheartedly, I support Amotekun. But considering the human factor, this clause if embodied in the main law,will only succeed in making the officers to become uncontrollably power drunk. At some point in the recent past, do we still remember the damning exploits of the OPC?
Let’s ponder over this.
God bless us.
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