Why Zamfara Assembly is impeaching Dep. Gov. – Chairman, Information Committee

The House of Assembly of Zamfara State on Monday explained the decision of the lawmakers to impeach Deputy Governor Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau on allegations of gross misconduct.

Chairman, House Standing Committee on Information of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Shamsudeen Hassan, highlighted on Monday the official position of members of the House on the impeachment of Deputy Governor Gusau.

Hassan narrated that the Speaker Zamfara State House of Assembly received notice of impeachment on Deputy Governor Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau of 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 members of the House to endorse a notice of impeachment.

Hassan said that the House accepted the notice as proper and in accordance with the provisions of the Law.  He added that the Speaker has duly served the Deputy Governor through the Secretary to the State Government.

The committee chairman stated that on no account whatsoever did the House, prior to the 4th of February 2022, initiate or even intend to initiate impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau.

Hassan said that in July 2021 or thereabout, the House in the discharge of its constitutional duties officially invited Deputy Governor Mahadi Aliyu Gusau under the provisions of Section 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

He protested that Deputy Governor Mahadi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging that the House is in the process of impeaching him.

Hassan acknowledged that the Court ordered maintenance of the status quo ante bellum by both parties on that matter. This, he said, gave Deputy Governor Mahadi Aliyu Gusau, the right to perform all functions of a Deputy Governor in the State and not honour the invitation of the House.

He said that the House, as an institution of Law and order, obeyed that Court order obtained Ex parte, an order with specific days of life span.

Hassan declared that the deputy governor is being impeached on allegations of abuse of office, which include 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, identified to involve criminal diversion of state funds, conspiracy to defraud the state and approval of dubious retirement in his office.

Hassan also listed the offences to include failure to discharge constitutional duties which give rise to insubordination.

He said that the Zamfara State Sixth Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, cherishes the rule of law, 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).

The statement of Shamsudeen Hassan, Chairman, House Standing Committee on Information of Zamfara State House of Assembly, reads:

Gentlemen of the press, as you may be a were that the Hon. members of this 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 fulfill 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.