Zamfara Deputy Governor Impeached

By Ogundele Olanrewaju

The Deputy Governor of Zamfara state, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau has been impeached.

Gusau, who refused to defect with the State governor, Bello Matawalle from the Peoples Democratic party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC was impeached by the state house of assembly on Wednesday.

Gusau’s impeachment comes a day after a seven-man panel investigating alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office against him closed its hearing.

It can be recalled that 18 members of the state house of assembly voted for the impeachment move, following which the Chief Judge of the state inaugurated the Investigative panel to probe the deputy governor, in line with the procedure for impeachment.

Mr. Gusau had on Sunday branded the House of Assembly members as ‘illiterates’ over the impeachment because there was a court order against it.

“I am here today to comment on the impeachment move against me. I have heard that the CJ (Chief Judge) has inaugurated a panel to investigate me. How could they go ahead with such a move? How could the CJ inaugurate the panel when the issue is before a court of law?”

“But this shows that they are nothing but illiterates to me. If they continue the move then they are illiterates. They should know there is a limit to what they can do.”

However, in a swift response on Tuesday, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Alhaji Shamsudeen Bosko, told journalists that “no court order could stop the impeachment process”.

He added that the process was in line with Section 188 (5) (7) of the country’s 1999 Constitution.