UPDATE: Why Nasarawa lawmakers resolved to impeach Governor Al-Makura

Twenty of the 24 lawmakers in the state signed the notice.

———————————-

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Monday reached a resolution to serve the state governor, Tanko Al-Makura, with an impeachment notice.

The resolution followed a motion of public interest raised by the deputy majority leader of the house, Yahaya Usman (PDP-Umaisha/Ugya).

Mr. Usman presented a document containing allegations of gross misconduct against the governor, which he said was signed by 20 of the 24 members of the Assembly.

“I’m on my feet to raise a motion under the matter of public interest and I will go direct to read the document I have in my hand,” he said at the Assembly’s sitting. “This is a notice of impeachment of Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state for gross misconduct. And for the violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, today being the 14th of July, 2014. Twenty of the twenty four members of this house unanimously endorsed the motion to serve Gov. Tanko Al-Makura notice of impeachment,” he said.

Mohammed Okpede (PDP-Doma North), the Chief Whip of the Assembly, seconded the motion to serve Mr. Al-Makura with the impeachment notice.

The Assembly’s clerk, Ego Maikeffi, was then directed to serve Mr. Al-Makura with the impeachment notice for alleged gross misconduct and misappropriation of funds.

The notice was signed by 20 of the 24 lawmakers in the state during the sitting presided over by the Speaker, Musa Mohammed, PDP-Nasarawa Central.

The speaker also directed that in the event that Mr. Al-Makura could not be reached for service, the impeachment notice should be served through the media.

The 16-count charge bordered on alleged extra-budgetary expenses by the governor.

Nasarawa has 20 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers and 4 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers.

The governor is a member of the APC.

The notice of impeachment was agreed few hours before the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state to commission a rice farm in Doma.

The Speaker said that the action of the house complied with the provision of the constitution.