Nasarawa Lawmakers Ask Justice To Set Up Probe Panel On Al-makura

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly says, there is no going back in the bid to impeach governor Tanko Al-makura as 20 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers passed a motion directing the state Chief Judge to set up a seven-man probe panel.

In a motion moved on Wednesday by the majority leader, Mr Godiya Akwashiki, under matters of public interest and seconded by Mr Baba Ibakwu, the lawmakers resolved that a seven-man panel be set up to probe the allegation against Governor Al-makura.

In his ruling, Speaker of the state assembly, Honourable Musa Mohammed, directed the state Chief Judge to immediately constitute a seven-man panel as resolved by members.

The resolution and subsequent directive, however, did not go down well with the four All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers who protested at the session.

The APC lawmakers and spokesperson for Governor Al-makura, Abdulhamid Kwara, reacted to the development from the assembly.

The APC had accused the ruling PDP and the presidency of fuelling the impeachment to stifle opposition, an allegation the presidency had denied.

Some indigenes of the state had held a protest against the process last week in an effort to coerce the lawmakers to stop the impeachment.

Few days after the protest, the lawmakers vowed to go ahead with the impeachment process against Governor Al-makura.

The chairman, House Committee on Information of the State House of Assembly, Mr Mohammed Ibaku, told reporters in Abuja on Sunday that the lawmakers would pursue the impeachment notice served on the governor for alleged embezzlement of funds.