Kogiflame.com
Kogi State House of Assembly on Tuesday called on the Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah to constitute a Seven-man Panel of Inquiry to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba.
Just as the deputy governor says the process is dead on arrival.
The House made the request in a resolution issues at plenary during sitting following adoption of a motion by Majority Leader, Abdullahi Bello-Balogun (APC-Ajaokuta) calling for investigation into the allegations as second step towards impeachment of the public officer.
Presenting the motion, Bello-Balogun said the motion was sequel to issuance of a Notice of Allegations to the Deputy Governor, two weeks ago (August 8, 2019).
He explained that the Deputy Governor evaded service of the Notice of Allegations on him and also directed that none of his aides should receive any correspondence from the House of Assembly on his behalf.
Bello-Balogun said that the prayers calling for investigation in the motion were in line with Section 188(3) that the House should resolve by motion supported by not less than two-third of members to request the Chief Judge to set up the Seven-man panel to investigate the allegations.
According to him, the Deputy Governor’s open vilification of Governor Yahaya Bello and the State Government as well as the alleged discrete and open support for candidates of the opposition parties during the Presidential, National and State Assembly Elections in February and March, this year across the state amounted to gross misconduct.
Sending the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Mohammed (APC-Ankpa) described the situation as worrisome and described the motion as appropriate.
Mohammed said that the seven man committee should be made up of persons of impeccable character as outlined in the country’s constitution.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole said questions as to ascertain the number of members who supported the adoption of the motion was 19 and more than the required of 17 members
Kolawole therefore, directed the the House to communicate the Chief Judge to within seven days constitute a panel within to investigate the deputy governor.
Meanwhile the Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba, has described the demand by the State Assembly, for the State Chief Judge to set up a seven man panel to investigate him for impeachment as a process that is dead on arrival.
The Deputy Governor while reacting to the state Assembly move on Tuesday , described the process leading to his been served as faulty, pointed out that he could not have been served on the 15th, August, 2019, and asked to respond in seven days only for the house to on the 20th set asked that the Chief Judge set up a committee to investigate him.
Achuba asked the State Assembly to serve as watchdog of the society and not that of the governor, lamented that as a complainant who exposed corruption, rather than been listened too, he was been investigated.
Elder Achuba says he has hope that the activities would come to naught, most especially that they are operating within a faulty foundation and procedures.
He advised the state assembly to build confidence in the people because any thing other than the peoples confidence, serving the governor would live them in trouble.
