Zamfara assembly: No court order can stop impeachment process against deputy governor

The Zamfara house of assembly says no court order can stop the impeachment process against Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, deputy governor of the state.

On February 7, Shamsudeen Basko, chairman of the house standing committee on information, announced the service of an impeachment notice on Gusau.

Hassan said the allegations against the deputy governor include “insubordination, abuse of office, and criminal self-enrichment”.

Reacting to the impeachment notice, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) warned Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, and the state house of assembly against impeaching Gusau.

On Monday, a federal high court in Abuja fixed March 10 for definite hearing in a suit instituted by the deputy governor seeking to stop the impeachment move.

Speaking on the development at a media briefing on Thursday, Basko said the impeachment process against the deputy governor is in accordance with section 188 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

The lawmaker accused Gusau of failure to perform as acting governor when Matawalle was absent from the state, alleging that the deputy governor’s decision was aimed at creating “leadership problem” in Zamfara.

“When the executive governor of the state was absent, the deputy governor, barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, intentionally and wilfully failed to perform as acting governor with the intention to create leadership problems in the state,” Basko said.

“No court proceedings or order can stop the impeachment process initiated by the honourable house lawfully and in accordance with section 188 subsection 10 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”