Impeachment: Nasarawa Assembly Asks Chief Judge To Constitute Panel
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Wednesday asked the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to constitute a seven-man panel to probe “alleged gross misconduct” leveled against Gov. Umaru Al-Makura.
The legislature took the decision during plenary on Wednesday which lasted for about 20 minutes.
Majority Leader of the House, Mr Godiya Akwashiki (PDP- Udege/Loko) moved the motion for the setting up of the probe panel in line with the provision of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The motion was later seconded by Mr Mohammed Baba-Ibaku (PDP- Nasarawa Eggon West).
The Speaker, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, put the motion to vote and 20 of the 24 members voted in favour, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers voted against the motion.
The assembly, therefore, directed the Clerk, Mr Ego Maikeffi, to communicate the decision to the Chief Judge, saying that the CJ has one week to constitute the panel.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the APC lawmakers attempted to snatch the mace but were prevented by the security operatives.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up along the road leading to the assembly with heavily armed policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers stationed in strategic areas and within the premises of the assembly.
NAN recalls that the legislature had on July 14, resolved to serve notice of impeachment for ‘alleged gross misconduct’ on the governor.
The development led to state-wide protests in major towns of the state that caused tension in Lafia, the state capital.
The assembly later resolved to publish the notice in the media on July 17, after alleged failed attempt by the Clerk to personally serve the governor with the impeachment notice.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Affairs, Malam Abdulhamid Kwarra, has insisted that Al-Makura was yet to be served with the ‘purported’ impeachment notice.
Kwarra assured that the governor would respond appropriately as soon as he received the notice. (NAN)
