APC Carpets Nasawara Lawmakers Over Calls For Dissolution Of Impeachment Probe Panel

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Thursday, July 31st, 2014

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on their dissolution demand of the seven man panel set up by the state Chief Judge, to probe the alleged gross misconduct and financial misappropriation charges against Governor Umaru Al-Makura.

The party described the request as “unreasonable, unconstitutional and way too late”.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said the demand by the lawmakers indicated that they were either have a very poor understanding of the Constitution or were blinded by desperation to impeach the embattled Governor.

”Either way, they have boxed themselves into a tight corner. Holding an illegal sitting in Abuja with a fake mace is as ridiculous as the demand by the lawmakers for the dissolution of the panel set up by the Chief Judge” the opposition party argued.

Quoting Section 188 (5) which provide that the State Chief Judge should constitute an investigative panel of seven persons “…who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party…”

APC contended that it was important to note that the opinion of the lawmakers in the face of the constitution did not matter, rather, the state’s Chief jurist.

Consequently, APC posited that neither the Speaker, legislators nor the Chief Judge has power to dissolve the panel at this level, nor stop the impeachment proceedings.

The opposition stated it was surprised by the unwarranted and illegal call for the dissolution of the panel by the PDP members in the Nasarawa legislative house as it stated the call fell within “the realm of the runaway impunity for which the PDP and the Jonathan’s administration have become infamous”.

It also noted that the development was the first in the history of the country’s democracy.

The party insisted that the demand was “unacceptable and it will not fly”.

”What the House is suffering from now is called boomerang. Against sound advice, it went ahead to initiate the impeachment process. Well, it must now follow it to its logical conclusion. The Chief Judge cannot be made to dissolve the seven-man panel because he simply lacks the power to so do,” the party emphasized.

Following the 16 – count charge of financial recklessness against Governor Al – Makura and notice of impeachment on him, Nasarawa state Chief Judge, Justice Sulaimon Dikko on the House’s demand last weekend constituted a seven – man investigative panel, headed by Yusuf Usman.

The panel is now reportedly being pressured to discontinue with its investigations, on allegations that some of the panel members were loyalists of Al-Makura and card carrying members of the ruling APC.

The House of Assembly relocated to another local government on Wednesday for its plenary session.

The move has been speculated to be the alternative plan to ensure the Governor is nailed.