Zamfara legislature begins impeachment of Dep Gov Gusau, lists offences  

The House of Assembly in Zamfara State has revealed serving impeachment notice on Deputy Governor Mahdi Gusau, listing offences of gross misconduct.

Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Information, Shamsudeen Hassan, disclosed on Monday that members of the State House of Assembly have resolved to impeach Deputy Governor Gusau, despite persisting court order restraining the Zamfara legislature from such action, citing allegations of abuse of office. He listed breaches in sections 190 and 193 (1), (2) (a)(b)(c) of the Constitution.

The House Standing Committee on Information Chairman said that Deputy Governor Gusau failed to discharge his constitutional duties, noting that this has been termed by the lawmakers as insubordination. The legislators also accused the deputy governor of criminal self-enrichment using public funds; he was accused to have diverted funds meant for the state and conspired to defraud the state.

The State Assembly said the impeachment notice was served on the deputy governor through the Secretary to the State Government.

The deputy governor repudiated the allegations, insisting on his innocence.

Meanwhile, Counsel to the deputy governor has sent a reminder to the House of Assembly on a subsisting court order restraining the legislators from impeachment of Gusau, which has not been vacated.

It was gathered that the Office of the Deputy Governor is yet to receive any communication from the House or receive any letter from the SSG transmitting notice of impeachment.

Deputy Governor Gusau has been under incessant attack for refusal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All progressives Congress (APC) with Governor Bello Matawalle in Zamfara State. There are indications that the whole essence of gross misconduct being conjectures by the Zamfara State lawmakers are products of the refusal of the deputy governor to defect to APC as the governor has done with some lawmakers and commissioners in the state.