Impeachment: Nasarawa CJ raises 7-man panel to probe Gov. Al-Mukura

Members of Nassarawa State House of Assembly have taken their move to impeach Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura with the inauguration of a a panel to probe charges against him.

THE Nasarawa State Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, on Friday inaugurated a seven-man panel to probe the allegation of gross misconduct governor.

According to the CJ, those named into the panel, which was inaugurated at the boardroom of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs in Life, are: Yusuf Shehu Usman (chairman), Mohammed Sabo Keana, Reverend Joel Galadima, Alhaji Abdu Usman, Samuel Chaku, Mohammed Sani Usman and Pastor Daniel Chaga.

Justice Dikko said he was setting up the panel according to the “the powers conferred on me by Section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the letter from the Hon. Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly with reference NSHA/MM/166/Vol.1/XXXVII dated 23rd day of July, 2014 requesting me to appoint a seven-man panel to investigate the governor.”

The Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Musa Ahmed, had earlier directed the clerk of the House, Ego Maikeffi, to serve Al-Makura a notice of impeachment for gross misconduct.

The House had agreed to proceed with the impeachment procedures based a motion of public interest raised by the Deputy Majority Leader, Honourable Yahaya Usman, representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and seconded by the Chief Whip, Honourable Mohammed Okpede (PDP-Doma North).

Subsequently, 20 of the 24 members of the assembly signed impeachment notice against the governor.

The House defied protests within and outside Lafia, the state capital, in setting up the panel which may eventually lead to the removal of the governor.