By Ahmed Tukur
Lafia
The Nasarawa state House of Assembly has directed the state Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to set up a seven-man panel to probe the 16-count impeachment charges against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
The directive was issued by the house Speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed (PDP – Nasarawa Central), after a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Godiya Akwashiki (PDP – representing Nasarawa Eggon West).
The motion, which was supported by Mohammed Baba Ibaku (PDP – Udege Loko), was unanimously accepted by the 20 PDP lawmakers in the assembly.
However, the four APC lawmakers in the house rejected the move, which nearly resulted in a commotion.
But in press briefing at the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulhamid Kwarra, appealed to the Chief Judge to ensure that due process was followed in constituting the investigation panel.
He insisted that the governor had not been personally served with the notice of impeachment as required by the constitution and any other extant law.
He said: “Accordingly, we wish to assure members of the public that, so long as constitutionality and due process are not adhered to, the government of Nasarawa state will not only respect, but will respond adequately and appropriately.”
He maintained that the actions of the assembly in the past one week “are not only suspect, premeditated, but a clear contravention of the provision of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
