Puntland parliament votes against AG’s appeal to lift MP’s immunity

Hopes by Puntland Attorney General to prosecute a state MP were dashed Saturday after the state parliament shot down a request to lift the immunity of the MP.

The assembly in a majority vote (39/41) declined to lift the immunity of Awil Daad noting he had not committed any offence.

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Deputy Attorney General Dr. Mohamed Harred Farah had on Wednesday written to the Speaker of Puntland Parliament requesting to strip Daad of immunity so that he could face charges.

“The office of the Attorney General requests the leadership of the House to lift the immunity of the MP Awil Hassan in order to charge him,” the deputy AG said.

The AG had argued the MP used offensive remarks against president Abdullahi Deni during the opening session of the parliament late last month. The MP had accused Deni of failure during the time he has been in office adding he (Deni) and his deputy were at loggerheads. He called on the two to resign.