Zamfara Assembly Serves Deputy Governor Impeachment Notice, Lists Offences

A file photo of Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mahdi Gusau, addressing reporters in the state capital.

The Zamfara State House of Assembly says it has served an impeachment notice to the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Mahdi Gusau.

Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Information, Shamsudeen Hassan, disclosed this to reporters on Monday in Gusau, the state capital.

In his briefing, he explained that the lawmakers have decided to impeach the deputy governor over allegations of abuse of office, saying he has breached sections 190 and 193 (1), (2) (a)(b)(c) of the Constitution.

Gusau was also accused of criminal self-enrichment using public funds, as he was alleged to have diverted funds meant for the state and conspired to defraud the state.

According to Hassan, the deputy governor failed to discharge his constitutional duties and that has been termed as insubordination.

While Mr Gusau has insisted that he has done no wrong, the lawmaker said the impeachment notice had been served on the deputy governor through the Secretary to the State Government.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Musa Bawa, had last Friday presented the notice of impeachment of the deputy governor to the speaker who promised to ensure it was treated in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Meanwhile, an aide to Gusau, Umar Aminu, told Channels Television that the Office of the Deputy Governor has yet to receive any communication from the House.

Rather, he explained that the deputy governor, through his lawyer, sent a reminder to the lawmakers of a subsisting court order restraining them from going ahead with the impeachment plan.

“We were in the office throughout the day, and we did not receive any letter from the SSG or House of Assembly,” Aminu said. “We sent the House a reminder letter of the court order restraining the lawmakers from impeaching the deputy governor.”

Read the full text of the briefing by Hassan below:

Gentlemen of the press, as you may be a were that the Hon. members of this Hon. House on the discharge of their constitutional duties formally served the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House with the impeachment notice of His Excellency, the Deputy Governor in the person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau, from the office of the Deputy Governor Zamfara State, on allegation of serious gross misconduct.

Today being, the 7th day of February 2022, I Shamsudeen Hassan, Chairman House Standing Committee on Information of Zamfara State House of Assembly present to you, the official position of the Hon. House that:

The Rt. Hon. Speaker Zamfara State House of Assembly received notice of impeachment of His Excellency the Deputy Governor in the person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau, from the office of the Deputy Governor Zamfara State, having satisfied the requirement of Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which requires 1/3 of the whole honourable members of the honourable House to endorse notice of impeachment.

The House under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Speaker accepts that particular notice as proper and in accordance with the provisions of the Law. The Speaker in conformity of statutes has dully served the Deputy Governor through the Secretary to the State Government.

For the avoidance of doubt, on no account whatsoever did this Hon. House, prior to the 4th of February 2022, initiate or even intend to initiate impeachment proceedings against His Excellency, the Deputy Governor in the person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau.

However, somewhere in 2021 in the month of July or thereabout, the Hon. House in the discharge of its constitutional duties officially invited His Excellency, the Deputy Governor in the person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Gusau under the provisions of Section 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

His Excellency, the Deputy Governor in the person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau mischievously approached Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging that this House is in the process of impeaching him.

Besides, the Court in its wisdom ordered for maintenance of status quo ante bellum by both parties on that matter. This gave His Excellency, the Deputy Governor in the person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Gusau, the right to perform all functions of a Deputy Governor in the State and not honour the invitation of this Hon. House.

The House, as an institution of Law and order, obeyed that Court order obtained (Ex parte), an order with specific days of life span.

The allegations against His Excellency the Deputy Governor in the person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau are:

Abuse of office: This includes constitutional breach of sections 190 and 193 (1), (2) (a)(b)(c), of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Criminal self-enrichment using public funds: This includes criminal diversion of state funds, conspiracy to defraud the state and approval of dubious retirement in his office.

Failure to discharge constitutional duties which give rise to insubordination: Gentlemen of the press, Zamfara State 6th Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Speaker, Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya cherishes rule of law, most especially obedience to courts of the land, but is always ready to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

This press statement is the only approved official position of the House and any other correspondence or view shall be associated with the maker of that statement. Its pertinent for the general public to know, the Zamfara State House of Assembly is independent, does not issue contracts or execute projects, rather it performs the constitutional duties of oversight function as enshrined in Nigeria’s enabling laws.

In other words, there are formal lay down procedures of acquiring information from the Hon. House including its finances, so any figures or amount issued by anybody being him a Hon. Member, political appointee, political aide, media aide, or staff of the Hon. House which does not fulfil such a requirement is in nullity.

Thanks and God bless you.

Signed

Hon. Shamsudeen Hassan Bosko,

Chairman House Standing Committee on Information,

Zamfara State House of Assembly.