Free for all as Nasarawa APC, PDP lawmakers trade blows

Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly engaged in a free-for-all on Monday over the appointment of sole administrators for 11 local government councils by Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

Lawmakers fighting

The free-for-all occurred on the floor of the legislature barely two hours after the governor inaugurated the 11 sole administrators.

Glasses were shattered while tables and chairs were upturned in the violence that engulfed the House.

A faction that described the governor’s action as illegal was opposed by another faction that supported the action of the governor.

Some legislators sustained injuries during the violence while some had their clothes torn.

Briefing newsmen at the legislative complex, a member, House Committee on Information, Mr. Makpa Malla, said that seats and tables were broken during the fight.

Describing the appointment by the governor as illegal, Malla said the Assembly could not continue to watch the governor perpetrate illegalities in the state.

He said, “As you can see, this is the executive room of the state House of Assembly, where we sit down every morning to discuss matters which would bring development to the state and the country at large.

“Categorically, I want to state here that the division which caused this chaos was as result of the appointment of the sole administrators by the governor. As a responsible legislature with some of us as lawyers, we insisted that the right thing must be done.

“The Section 7 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – as amended – guarantees a democratic system of governance at the local government level. The provision of the constitution is explicit on how the local government structure should be run.

“That is why we are kicking against the appointment of the sole administrators. Sole administrators only existed during the military era and as respecters of the rule of law, we must ensure that the executive must also respect the rule of law.”

Malla, however, urged the people of the state to remain calm and be law-abiding as the law would take its course in the matter.

Also speaking during the press conference, Mr. Abubakar Kana, an All Progressives Congress member representing Kokona-West, said there was no provision for the position of sole administrator in the laws of Nasarawa State.

He said this was the reason why the lawmakers kicked against the action of Al-Makura.

He said, “Where would the sole administrators derive their powers from? Who determines the tenure and salaries of the sole administrators? Sole administrators are not known to Nigerian and Nasarawa laws.

“If the sole administrators commit any offence, under what law would they be tried?”

Reacting, the Deputy Speaker, Godiya Akwashiki, who is a Peoples Democratic Party member representing Nasarawa-West, condemned the action of those who opposed the governor’s action.

He said the 24-member House would not be cowed by a few members who had gone on a campaign of calumny against the state.

Akwashiki said, “They accused some of us of receiving N50m bribe each from the governor. I want them to come out with proof. They should show the world the video to back up their allegations.

“Although there is the principle of separation of powers, we still meet with the governor when necessary. The meeting could be on his request or on our request.

“Last week Friday, the Speaker of the House wrote a letter to the governor, requesting that the House wanted to see him. The governor granted our demand by honouring our invitation. The governor invited all of us but only 17 of us attended the meeting in Abuja while others stayed back.”

Akwashiki said the false allegation of bribery was one of the reasons why a few members of the legislature opposed the action of the governor.

The deputy speaker said the lawmakers met with the governor over a court judgment which ordered that the tenure of the 11 council chairmen must not exceed two years.

He said the governor had to inaugurate the 11 sole administrators because of the security situation in the state, adding that on account of this, it would be wrong to fault the governor’s decision.

“We cannot afford to leave the councils without heads. The tenure of the former local government chairmen expired on March 24, 2016,” he said.

Free for all as Nasarawa APC, PDP lawmakers trade blows

Gunmen kill 15 farmers, burn houses in Nasarawa

No fewer than fifteen Agatu farmers were killed by unidentified gunmen in Udeni Ruwa district, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nararawa state, while five others drowned.

It was learnt that the suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded two settlements in Udeni Ruwa district of the state on Sunday night, setting houses on fire.

But, the Police Public Relation Officer, Nasarawa state command, ASP Ismaila Numan Umaru, who confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in a telephone interview in Lafia, the state capital, said seven people were killed and many houses were burned during the attack.

According to him, the attack on Agatu farmers was a reprisal attack by the Fulani herdsmen following a report that three of their men got missing in the area when they took their cows for grazing.

He said, “There was a report that three of the Fulani herdsmen, who took their cows for grazing on Agatu farm land got missing while another body of the victims was discovered.”

The police image maker, however, added that the command had already deployed its men in the area to avoid further breakdown of law and order

Gunmen kill 15 farmers, burn houses in Nasarawa

Pastor blames devil after raping teenager during deliverance

The Nasarawa State Police command on Monday arrested a 46 year-old pastor, Ifeanyi Bernard, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in the Karu Local Government Area of the state.

Similar Rapist

According to police authorities, the alleged rape took place on November 3 when the pastor was performing deliverance on the teenager.

However, the pastor described the incident as the handiwork of the devil.

While parading the suspect at the Criminal Investigative Department, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sani Mohammed, said the suspect was apprehended following a report by the father of the victim, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.

According to the police, the cleric, who lives in the Alikima Mararaba area of the state, lured the victim into his house under the pretext of casting out demons from her.

The police boss said the cleric allegedly pushed her to his bed and raped her repeatedly.

The commissioner said the suspect threatened to kill the victim if she reported the incident to any member of her family.

However, when the father of the girl learnt of the incident, he reported the matter to the police. The police subsequently stormed the pastor’s home and arrested him.

Policemen also recovered bottles of anointing oil from the suspect’s home as well as a bedspread.

The CP said, “The pastor took advantage of his closeness to the girl’s family – who are members of his congregation – to rape their 13-year-old daughter under the guise of casting out demons from her.”

While speaking with our correspondent at the police command, the pastor confessed to the crime, adding that he didn’t know what came over him when he committed the crime.

He said, “I had been into evangelism for some years now and I have been casting out demons from people who have spiritual and family problems before I met this young girl through her father, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.

“I have been a friend of the family for quite some time.

“I used my anointing oil to lure her into my room and all of a sudden, I was carried away and before I knew what was happening, I saw myself making love to her.”

Meanwhile, the police have also arrested four suspects for allegedly kidnapping a Taiwanese, Mr. Chew Williams, on October 6.

“We collected the sum of N7m from the Taiwanese before releasing him,” the suspects said.

It was learnt, however, that the police were only able to recover N750, 000 from the suspects.

Pastor blames devil after raping teenager during deliverance

The Judgment In The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition And The Akwa Ibom Case

By Inibehe Effiong

The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Lafia headed by Justice Halima Shammaki on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 delivered judgment in the petition filed by Mr. Labaran Maku of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) against the election of Governor Tanko Al-makura of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Edo State Tribunal

The Tribunal unanimously dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.

I have not had the privilege of reading the full text of the judgment, but going by the report in the Punch Newspaper on the judgment especially on the issue of Card Reader, data analysis of the forensic experts, allegations of malpractice and over voting, I am confident that justice will prevail in the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition.

I will not make specific conclusions on how the Nasarawa State’s case relates or affects the Akwa Ibom case as doing so may be subjudice. However, suffice it to say that the Petitioners in the Akwa Ibom case satisfied the requirements which the Petitioner in Nasarawa case failed to meet.

Inter alia (among other reasons), the Tribunal in Nasarawa dismissed the petition because of the failure by the Prtitioner to prove certain facts. Subject to the decision of the Tribunal, those preconditions and facts were met by the Petitioners in the Akwa Ibom case especially as it relates to Card Reader data and forensic analysis.

Of importance is the reasoning of the Nasarawa Tribunal on the issue of failure to use Card Readers. The Tribunal in its judgment held that the Petitioner had failed to prove that Card Readers were not used in certain polling units. This apparently was fatal to the case of the Petitioner.

Another significant part of the judgment as reported by the Punch Newspaper relates to the credibility and probative value of the data analysis by the forensic experts engaged by the Petitioner. The Tribunal it its judgment held that it cannot rely on the data presented by the experts because they did not originate from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In other words, INEC was not the source of the data relied on the experts in arriving at their conclusions.

In the Akwa Ibom case, the issue of whether Card Readers were used or not or whether the number of votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters will be determined by the data contained in Exhibit 317 ( The Certified True Copy of the polling unit by polling unit Card Reader accreditation report for the whole of Akwa Ibom State obtained by the Petitioners from INEC on 27th April, 2015).

Therefore, in the Umana Umana’s case, INEC is the source of the data. Exhibit 317 will speak and the Tribunal will draw necessary conclusions accordingly.

Again, the forensic experts in the Akwa Ibom case carried out forensic analysis on the election materials and INEC documents sequel to an order granted by the Tribunal. The Tribunal equally granted the Petitioners the leave to call the forensic experts as additional witnesses. Their report which was based on data obtained from INEC was tendered and admitted. The report was accompanied with 14 appendices.

Another point worthy of note is the part of the judgment in the Nasarawa case as reported by the Punch Newspaper that the Petitioner failed to prove malpractice during the election. In the Akwa Ibom case, beyond the testimonies of witnesses and documentary evidence led on the issue of malpractices and violence, there is Exhibit 337 (A Police Report that detailed instances of violence during the election). The Tribunal will determine their probative and evidential value.

Finally, the Tribunal in Nasarawa also held that the Petitioner did not sort out the ballot papers. In the Akwa Ibom case, INEC (the 4th Respondent) had criminally and wilfully lumped ballot papers of different polling units, wards and local government areas, immersed them in water and packed them into bags in the most despicable manner contrary to the express provisions of the INEC Manuel for Election Officials all in an effort to frustrate sorting and inspection.

The ballot papers in their terrible state were tendered and admitted in evidence and marked Exhibit 345. The forensic report detailed all these infractions.

In the course of trial, the INEC Electoral Officer for Onna Local Government Area, Mr. Dominic Okena, who testified as Defence Witness 26 could not identify the ballot papers used for Onna Local Government Area where he supervised. He admitted in the open court that the ballot papers were mixed. Whether the Respondents will be allowed to benefit from their own illegality and wrong doing is left for the Tribunal to determine.

I will not go further having covered all the issues reported by the Punch Newspaper. The question now is: how will these disparities between the cases of the Petitioners in Nasarawa and Akwa Ibom affect the judgment in the Akwa Ibom case? I cannot answer this because doing so will be subjudice. The Tribunal will decide one way or the other.

Case are decided on their merits. No two cases are the same.

Judgment in the Akwa Ibom State governorship petition will be delivered on or before the 25th day of October, 2015. That is the day that the mandatory 180 days period stipulated by Section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) for the determination of election petitions will elapse in the Akwa Ibom State governorship election petition.

Our faith in the Judiciary is unshaken.

inibehe.effiong@gmail.com

The Judgment In The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition And The Akwa Ibom Case

Army to punish soldiers for torturing naked robber

The authorities of the Nigerian Army have apprehended some soldiers who were photographed torturing a suspected armed robber at Mararaba, Nasarawa State, near Abuja.

Army Brutality

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in an electronic mail on Monday that the Army would ensure that the soldiers involved were punished.

He said the photograph  of a soldier flogging a naked robbery suspect, which appeared on the front page of major national newspapers and other social media platforms, had done serious damage to the image of the service.

Usman said the action of the soldiers contradicted the ethics of the military tradition and professionalism in the service.

He said the Army authorities have identified the soldiers and would administer the necessary punishment on them.

“The attention of The Nigerian Army has been drawn to a front page photograph of some soldiers maltreating a suspected robber at Mararraba, Nasarawa State, on the front page of  today’s edition of Daily Trust newspaper.

“Sadly, it is also trending on the Social Media. There is no doubt the photograph has done incalculable damage to the image of the service. The act was unfortunate and at variance with military ethics and professionalism.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public that the perpetrators of the offence have been identified, summoned and would face disciplinary action.”

Usman said the Army had also contacted the newspaper over the prominence accorded the worrisome picture.

He stressed that steps should have been taken to alert the Army authorities to the development instead of putting the picture on the paper’s cover.

He assured the citizenry of the determination of the Army to respect human rights in its operation.

He appealed to the public not to use the ugly incidence to judge the service.

Army to punish soldiers for torturing naked robber

Ombatse militia group that killed 85 security operatives join APC

Zamani Allumaga, the legal adviser of the outlawed Ombatse militia group that killed 85 security operatives in Alakyo village of Nasarawa State, has joined the All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State.

Mr. Allumaga lost the Nasarawa North senatorial district election on the platform of Labour Party.

Mr. Allumaga was indicted by the Justice Joseph Gbadeyan-led commission of inquiry into the Alakyo killings.

Addressing journalists at the government house shortly after his defection in Lafia, Mr. Allumaga claimed that the Ombatse group was deceived into war by their political leaders for selfish reasons.

Mr. Allumaga alleged that the architects of the Ombatse militia group are now seeking elective positions without thinking about the deaths they caused.

He added that the Ombatse crisis had been a political move targeted at the 2015 general elections and not a tribal agenda as alleged by a section of Eggon leaders.

“The moment our leaders jumped the ship without any explanation for abandoning the government of CPC, the Eggon nation began to have problems because we were deceived that the government is after our lives,” he said.

“We were told that we should not vote Almakura because he is going to kill our people. But to our surprise, those beating the drums of war never cared to seek reconciliation for our people to move forward.”

“Our people were made to suffer by our leaders so that they could reap from the future. But we have realized our mistakes and forgiven Almakura for the state to move forward”.

He promised that the Eggon people will massively vote for APC in the gubernatorial elections and that he will personally withdraw the case instituted by Ombatse group over the white paper of the commission of inquiry into the Alakyo killings against the state government.

The Nasarawa State government white paper, which indicted some indigenes of the state for the Alakyo killings, has been all the government has done in response to the killings of the dozens of police officers and State Security Service agents by the group.

No one has been punished by the federal government of Nigeria or the Nasarawa State government over the 2013 attack.

Ombatse militia group that killed 85 security operatives join APC

Fulani herdsmen kill 25 in Nasarawa

By Abel Daniel

LAFIA—No fewer than 25 persons, including women and children, were yesterday feared killed by suspected Fulani insurgents at Arikya-Soni, a boundary area between Nasarawa-Eggon and Lafia local government areas of Nasarawa State.

Victims of the attack

Eyewitness told Vanguard in Lafia that the gunmen reportedly ambushed and killed their victims on their way back from the farms early in the morning, and seized nine motorcycles belonging to the deceased persons.

A mass burial was yesterday conducted for the victims after their remains were recovered at Umme, at about 1 pm.

The victims, who are all of Eggon ethnic nationality of the state, hailed from Umme, Arugbadu and Bakyano villages of Nasarawa Eggon local government area.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Nasarawa State command, confirmed the incident and said investigation had commenced to unravel the perpetrators of the criminal act.

A survivor, Mrs. Saratu Mustapha, told newsmen at Ashangbo clinic in the locality where she is receiving treatment for gun shots wound, that she was returning from the farm in company of her husband and sister on a motorcycle when the gunmen attacked them.

She explained that her husband and her sister were among those killed during the attack, stating that she was able to escape into the bush.

Another survivor from Arugbadu, Habibu Mohammed, explained that he was returning from the farm along with his parents when Fulani gunmen opened fire on them.

Mohammed who could not control his emotions, further explained that he lost his parents in the attack as well as his motorcycle with which he was conveying them.

Reacting to the incident, a member representing the area (Nasarawa Eggon East constituency) in the state House of Assembly, Mohammed Muluku, who led journalists to the scene of the incident, expressed shock over the high casualty figure.

He called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the area to prevent further attacks on his constituents.

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Fulani herdsmen kill 25 in Nasarawa

Youths attack Labaran Maku, others; burn cars

A former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, and a senator, Solomon Ewuga, escaped unhurt as angry youth stormed the palace of Bala Angbazo, the paramount ruler of the Eggon people, on Sunday evening. The traditional ruler was hosting a reconciliatory meeting between three Eggon sons seeking to be Nasarawa governor under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Labaran Maku

The youth, who trooped to the palace in their hundreds, set ablaze a Toyota Corolla belonging to Chris Mamman, the immediate past National President of Eggon Cultural Association, ECD. Messrs Mamman, Maku, and Ewuga are all PDP governorship aspirants.

The meeting was being held to choose one a consensus from among the three Eggon aspirants.

Mr. Maku, who was attending the meeting for the first time, escaped unhurt before Messrs Ewuga and Mamman. The two men were rescued by military officers who came to the scene in three Hilux vans to forestall further destruction of property as the youth had blocked the Mr. Ewuga’s entourage and prevented them from going out of the palace.

Ibrahim Audu, a resident of Nasarawa Eggon, said the youth were angry with Mr. Mamman’s decision to contest the election.

When contacted, the Nasarawa Police spokesperson, Umar Numan, confirmed the attack and that Mr. Mamman’s car was burnt. He said calm had returned to the area and no arrest has been made.

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Youths attack Labaran Maku, others; burn cars

17-year-girl attempt suicide over mother"s decision to stop her boyfriend

A 17-year old girl, Rahila Joshua, has attempted to commit suicide by swallowing rat poison, because her mother was against her friendship with her boyfriend, Yakubu Abu.

The incident, which happened around 1:30p.m, on Friday, at Akunza-Maigili in Agyaragu, Jenkwe Development Area of Nasarawa State, was said to have thrown the entire community into palpable fear, before she was rushed to the nearby clinic and later transferred to Police Clinic on Lafia-Jos road in Lafia, the state capital.

Informed family sources told the Nigerian Tribune, on Monday, that the victim’s mother, had always been warning her to stay away from Abu and even vowed not to allow her to marry him.

Investigations further revealed that the victim was beaten when her mother saw her with Abu hence she resorted into swallowing poisonous substance.

According to one of the witnesses, “she loves the guy and her mother was not in support of that friendship, but she insisted on marrying the boy. On that fateful day, her mother again beat her because of the guy, so she decided to swallow rat poison, which made her to become unconscious before she was rescued by the police.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ismaila Numan, who confirmed the incident at the police headquarters, added that she was rescued by Detective Benedict Patrick to Police Clinic and that part of the rat poison was recovered from her.

In a related development, a traffic warden, Peter Sunday alongside his wife, Catherine, might be charged to court by the state police command for alleged falsehood information to the police.

Credible police source confided to the Nigerian Tribune that the officer, who was residing at Millionaire quarters in Lafia Local Government Area of the state, rushed her wife to the Police Clinic on the pretext that his wife drank poisonous substance known as Ota-Piapia.

According to informed senior police source, the traffic warden attached to M.T.D Division, Lafia, went to B Division Police Station, Millionaire quarters at about 0200 hrs and reported that his wife wanted to commit suicide by taking poisonous substance.

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17-year-girl attempt suicide over mother"s decision to stop her boyfriend

2 Arrested For Killing Village Head In Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested two suspected killers of the village head of Unguwan Mada in Nasarawa local government area.

Parading the suspects before newsmen in Lafia, the state Police Commissioner, Idris Ibrahim, said one of the suspects, Danladi Azamu, was the secretary to the deceased while his partner-in-crime, Usman Samaila, was a messenger to the deceased.

While fielding questions from the press, Samaila, who confessed to carrying out the act said, the deceased sent for him while on his way to his farm and he declined to honour it, a development which got the village head incensed and he threatened him with, “You will see”.

He said upon hearing the threat, he drew the attention of his accomplice, Azamu, who called the deceased on phone to know his whereabouts so as to carry out their evil plot.

On reaching the house of their victim who had disclosed innocently that he was at home, the aides- turned killers traced him to the bathroom where he was taking his bath and hacked him to death with machete.

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2 Arrested For Killing Village Head In Nasarawa

Three killed, Two injured as APC, PDP supporters clash in Nasarawa

LAFIA – The renewed determination by the Nasarawa state House of Assembly on Monday to take their impeachment procedure to logical conclusion stirred up APC supporters against PDP leaving 3 persons dead and one person critically injured in Dadere, Obi local government on Tuesday.

The crisis started when Hon. Sidi Bako, a member of the Nasarawa House of Assembly decided to visit his constituency.

PDP Supporters who came to welcome Sidi Bako, who absconded his constituency since the impeachment saga for fear of attack, were disrupted by some APC supporters in the area who were not comfortable with the development.

The reaction by APC supporters triggered some angry PDP youths who felt demeaned and wanted to take immediate action but were prevented by the JTF who were deployed to the area to quell the violence.

However the crisis took a different dimension when some youths in the area got information that one of their members were critically injured and decided to take revenge on APC supporters who fled the area leaving 3 people dead.

The police public relation ASP Numan Ismaila confirmed to our correspondent in Lafia that three bodies were recovered and one critically injured. He said that the force has currently deployed officers to the area for full investigation on the persons involved in the trouble.

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Three killed, Two injured as APC, PDP supporters clash in Nasarawa

Fresh plot to impeach Al-Makura of Nasarawa State emerges

All is still not well between Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State and majority of the members of the state House of Assembly, despite escaping the first round of impeachment two weeks ago.

Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa State Governor

The aggrieved lawmakers, who are unhappy that the governor was cleared of all the allegations they levelled against him, hatched a fresh plot at the weekend at a secret location in Lafia, the state capital to push out the governor within a week.

Under the plot, which has now received the blessing of the PDP top hierarchy in the country, Al-Makura is to be probed by another panel to be hurriedly raised by a vacation judge in the state and made up mostly elements to be selected by the lawmakers.

To pave the way for the raising of another panel to tackle the governor, the lawmakers are planning an emergency session on Monday during which they would pass a vote of no confidence on the State Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko and suspend him from office.

While on suspension, the lawmakers would empower the vacation judge in the state to constitute a ‘friendly’ panel to take a fresh look at the allegations of gross misconduct and indict the governor within the first day of sitting.

Based on the report, the legislators are to remove the governor the following day and swear in his deputy, Dameshi Barau Luka.

A top source close to the lawmakers told Vanguard last night that they were set to reconvene early this week and pass a resolution directing the Vacation Judge in the state, Justice Rose Soji, to raise a fresh panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Al-Makura.

The source explained that the legislators were determined to take any step possible to ensure that the governor was removed within a week from the date of the setting up of the new panel.

The official explained that the lawmakers opted to take fresh steps to sack the governor since the Chief Judge had violated the law by putting pro-Al-Makura members in the panel that eventually cleared the governor.

The source said: “What the lawmakers are going to do this time around is to ensure that the governor is removed within days by the anti-Al-Makura panel they plan to raise on Monday or Tuesday this week before the CJ, Justice Suleiman Dikko, who they don’t trust returns from vacation next month.

A top government official privy to the plot said that the lawmakers are angry with the governor for various reasons chief among them being that he refused to dump the APC for PDP after being assisted to win the election petition case in 2012.

The governor is also said to be in the lawmakers’ bad books for reporting them to the EFCC that they pocketed billions of state funds under the guise of executing non-existing constituency projects.

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Fresh plot to impeach Al-Makura of Nasarawa State emerges

Apologise to Al-Makura for impeachment moves - APC tells Jonathan

• Hails Nasawara Chief Judge, probe panel for clearing the governor

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has call on President Goodluck Jonathan to apologise to the people of Nasarawa State including the state governor, Tanko Al-Makura for attempting to impeach the People’s Governor.

Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura

This was contained in a statement by the Rivers State SSS Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze.

The party hail the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State and the members of the Investigating Panel headed by Yusuf Shehu Usman for clearing the governor of all charges, adding that the action has defeated ”fascism and impunity, stoutly” defending the mandate the people of Nasarawa state freely gave to Governor Al-Makura.

”They have by so doing succeeded in exposing PDP as an evil party that does not mean well for the people of Nasarawa State by investigating and finding the Governor innocent of all the false allegations against him. By so doing, the Chief Judge and members of the Investigating Panel have forestalled the unjust removal of a Governor who has proved that he is out to serve and develop Nasarawa State. They have, by this act, written their names in gold in the history of the political evolution of our nation. ” APC said

The Party added ” We are very pleased by the way and manner the Emirs, Chiefs and people of Nasarawa State defeated fascism and impunity, stoutly defending the mandate they freely gave to their Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, when the misguided and demented PDP Leadership in conjuncture with a confused Presidency attempted to impeach the People’s Governor and steal their mandate from the backyard.

APC praised the masses for rallying round the governor and frustrating the evil plot of the PDP leadership to execute a coup against the state governor.

APC blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for hosting the Nasarawa lawmakers without calling them to order in their plans to ridicule democracy in the country, adding that the President should apologise to the people of Nasarawa State for his unpresidential conduct that, according to the party, has caused Nigerians monumental psychological trauma.

APC  ”urge the people of Nasarawa State to start without any delay the immediate recall of all lawbreakers who call themselves PDP lawmakers and who orchestrated this failed attempt of stealing the mandate freely given to Governor Al-Makura by the people of Nasarawa State. We also urge them to join other Nigerians to ensure that PDP is adequately punished by denying the party any elective post come 2015.

” The manner in which PDP Leadership went about the impunity that was called the impeachment of Adamawa State Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, for standing up and protecting the interests of his people and the militarisation of Ekiti State election simply demonstrates that PDP is desperate to trample on the rights and mandate of the people. This, no doubt, is a rehearsal of what they have in stock for Nigerians in 2015, seeing that the party has been rejected by Nigerians as a result of the hardship it party has brought upon Nigerians particularly by means of the unfortunate administration of President Jonathan.”

 

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Apologise to Al-Makura for impeachment moves - APC tells Jonathan

No going back on Al-Makura’s impeachment – Nasarawa assembly

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has said that it will go ahead and impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa State Governor

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Security, Baba Ibaku, who stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Lafia on Wednesday, said that there was no going back on the impeachment move against the governor.

He said the panel set up by the Chief Judge, Justice Umaru Dikko, to investigate the 16 counts against the governor, breached Section 188 Subsection (5) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

He, therefore, described the sitting of the panel as illegal.

Ibaku said that the lawmakers did not know whether there was any sitting of the panel on Tuesday or not.

The lawmaker stated, “As far as we are concerned, there is no seven-man panel that is investigating Governor Al-Makura, because we had earlier asked the state chief judge to disband the panel.

“We sent our legal team to appear before the panel yesterday (Tuesday) and we instructed them to simply tell the Chairman of the panel, Yusuf Usman, that we (the lawmakers) only appeared through our legal team to register our protest against the composition of the panel because the members of the panel are political office holders,” he stated.

He said, “We will go-ahead with our moves to impeach Governor Al-Makura and nothing will stop us to step down on our plans, no matter what it entails. We are going to file a case before the law court as soon as we finish our deliberation,”

“We will always sit in any part of the state to pass another resolution,”

On its part, the governor lauded the decision of the judicial panel.

Al-Makura, who gave the commendation in an interview with journalists in Lafia, described the outcome of the panel as a victory for democracy.

The governor said, “My victory is for the rule of law. I am sure the people of goodwill and the people of Nasarawa State, even without coming to the tribunal, know who the governor is and what he could do and what he can or not do. My vindication is for the good people of Nasarawa State.”

While dedicating the victory to the people of the state, he urged them to be on the right part of the law. He also commended the role played by the team of his legal experts.

But the Legal Adviser to the outlawed Ombatse Militia Group, Zachariah Allumaga, condemned the seven-man panel for dismissing the allegations against the governor.

According to him, Al-Makura has been using the instruments of state powers to the disservice of the people.

He said, “The governor has always, since his assumption of office, been the judge in his own case,” adding that the people of the state would oppose such moves by the governor.

Allumaga, who spoke in an interview with The PUNCH in Lafia, argued further that the state lawmakers were on course. However, he said they should go ahead with their actions in the spirit of the constitution.

He called on members of the state House of Assembly not to derail, adding that what happened at the panel was a child’s play.

The legal adviser of the Ombatse cult group faulted the state chief judge, whom he said had made himself to be used by a drowning governor.

Allumaga, who is also a former Magistrate in the state, said that Dikko has done a great havoc to Section 188 of the Constitution. He urged the state House of Assembly and the Nigerian Judicial Council to sanction him.

According to him, the CJ constituted a panel that had the governor’s cronies, card-carrying party members and government appointees.

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No going back on Al-Makura’s impeachment – Nasarawa assembly

Nasarawa impeachment panel dismisses allegations against Al-Makura

The panel set up to investigate the 16 allegations of gross misconduct leveled against Governor Tanko Al-Makura by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday dismissed the allegations for want of evidence.

Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura

The Chairman of the panel, Yusuf Usman, during the proceeding of the panel in Lafia, said the Assembly failed to appear before it to prove its allegations.

He said the panel, therefore, had no choice than to dismiss the allegations.

Usman said the panel had, at the Monday sitting, given a grace of 24 hours to the House of Assembly to appear before it and substantiate its case.

He also drew attention to the appearance of counsel for the Assembly, led by Mr. Ocha Ulegede, on Tuesday.

He said during the counsel’s appearance, it faulted the sitting of the panel on composition grounds.

Usman, therefore, said the refusal of the Assembly to participate in the proceedings implied that it had failed to tender evidence to prove its case.

He said, “The rule of natural justice and our criminal laws put the onus of proof on the complainant, and failure of which the accused is deemed innocent.

“The House has failed to advance evidence on the 16 allegations. The panel agrees with the prayer of the counsel for the governor.

“It has no option than to dismiss each and every of the charges against the governor.”

He said the panel, in compliance with section 188, sub section 8 of the Constitution, would transmit its decision to the state House of Assembly.

Earlier, Ulegede had told the panel that he was appearing before the panel in protest.

He argued that the state Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, failed to comply with the provision of section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended in raising the panel.

Ulegede alleged that two members of the panel were card carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party while another is a public servant.

He contended that this contravened the constitutional provision on the subject matter.

He also said the guidelines used by the panel were wrong as the constitution provided that the rules of proceeding should come from the Assembly.

“The panel has no power to have sat and even set rules.

“Its action was in breach of the constitution and panel should be disbanded on the ground of morality,” he said.

He contended that members of the Assembly would not participate in the panel’s proceedings until the constitutional breaches were addressed.

Reacting to Ulegede’s position, Usman said the panel had no power to take decision on the issues raised by Ulegede, pointing out that such decisions could only be handled by the court.

Counsel for Al-Makura, Chief Nnoruka Udechukwu, had prayed the panel to dismiss the allegations on the notice of impeachment in compliance with section 7 (c) of the panel guidelines.

Udechukwu noted that there was no proof and acknowledgement of service of the hearing notice on his client.

He, however, said the refusal by the Assembly to participate in the proceeding implied the abandonment of the allegation.

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Nasarawa impeachment panel dismisses allegations against Al-Makura

Impeachment: Al-Makura appears before panel, lawmakers absent

Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura on Monday appeared before the seven-man panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Umaru Dikko, to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the state House of Assembly.

Members of the assembly were, however, absent.

Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa State Governor

The lawmakers were also not represented by any counsel at the sitting, which was held at the Conference Hall of the state’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Lafia, the state capital.

Al-Makura arrived   the ministry at 8.45am and took his seat at the conference hall at 9am, when the panel sitting was scheduled to start.

But the panel members arrived the venue at 9.20am and began sitting at 10am.

The panel, however, adjourned sitting till Tuesday (today) to enable the lawmakers to appear before it.

Before adjourning, the Chairman of the panel, Yusuf   Usman, said the members would carry out their duties in accordance with the laid down procedures.

He said that the panel resolved to prepare guidelines that would ensure orderly conduct during its proceedings.

Usman added, “The panel decided to formulate some guidelines to guide its operation in order to allow the parties to appear before it for a smooth and orderly conduct of its proceedings.”

He, however, said that   parties could appear in person or through their counsel.

“The Nasarawa State House of Assembly may make a formal presentation of the said allegations before the panel through an opening address either by themselves or   their counsel,” he explained, adding that the governor could also appear in person or be represented by his counsel.

The chairman also said the Nasarawa State House of Assembly might “adduce evidence to prove the allegations contained in the said notice of impeachment of the Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, dated 14th July,2014.

Umaru said the panel might dismiss the allegations if the assembly failed to appear or to provide proof of the allegations.

“Also, where the governor fails or neglects to defend the allegations against him ,and if the panel is satisfied that he has been duly served either personally or by substituted means (as the panel may have ordered) , the panel will proceed to consider the evidence led by the   assembly and make appropriate findings.’’

The governor, during the second part of the public sitting on Monday, insisted that he was not served notice of impeachment. He said he only received the notice of the sitting.

Al-Makura said that he decided to appear before the panel to clear himself of the allegations.

The governor, who stood up and raised a voluminous copy of a statement of defence, said he had already prepared a written defence that he would present to the panel.

His lead counsel, Chief Udechukwu Udechuku (SAN), called on the panel to dismiss the notice of impeachment for want of proof of the allegations.

Udechukwu described nonappearance of the lawmakers as a disservice to the panel and Nigeria.

He urged the panel to enter a verdict of no-proof against the assembly members for not appearing to prove their allegations.

He said that Section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act, Paragraph 7 and the guidelines of the panel were identical.

The SAN stated that if the accusers failed to turn up to substantiate their allegations, the panel or the court could dismiss the allegations.

The counsel further urged   the panel to evoke paragraph 7 (c) of the Criminal Procedure Act to give effect to the guideline to dismiss the allegations.

He said that there was proof that the assembly was served with the hearing notice but that it chose not to appear before the committee.

“I am calling on the panel to evoke paragraph 7 (c) of the Criminal Procedure Act to give effect to the guidelines to dismiss the allegations leveled against the governor because there is proof that the house of assembly was served with hearing notic,” Udechukwu said.

The chairman   ruled that though the panel would not oppose the submission of the lead counsel, it would give the lawmakers till Tuesday (today) to appear before it.

Efforts to get the comment of the chairman of the assembly’s   Information and Security Committee, Baba Ibaku, were not successful as calls to his mobile telephone did not go through.

The Press Secretary to the Speaker of the   assembly, Ibrahim Tanko, told The PUNCH in a telephone interview that he was not in the position to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, Al-Makura has asked a state High Court to quash the impeachment notice issued against him by the state House of Assembly.

The governor filed the suit before a Nasarawa State High Court in Lafia on Monday following the resumption of judicial workers from their three weeks old nationwide strike.

Al-Makura is seeking judicial interpretation of sections 36(1) and 188(1)(2)(3)(4) and (5) of the Constitution in relation to the issuance of the impeachment notice on him.

The state House of Assembly and its 24 members are the defendants in the suit which is marked NSD/LF3/M/14

The governor’s lawyer, Udechuchuwu Udechukwu (SAN), who is leading Funke Aboyade (SAN) and seven others in the governor’s legal team, argued that the lawmakers failed to serve the notice of impeachment on his client as required by the constitution.

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Impeachment: Al-Makura appears before panel, lawmakers absent

Impeachment: Lawmakers drag Tanko Al-Makura to EFCC

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has sent a petition against Governor Tanko Al-Makura to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura

The Chairman of the assembly’s Committee on Information and Security, Mr. Baba Ibaku, told one of our correspondents on Sunday, that Al-Makura would face the EFCC after his impeachment.

“We have petitioned the EFCC and after   our impeachment process, the governor will know how to defend himself,” he said.

Ibaku was reacting to an allegation by the All Progressives Congress’ Chairman in the state, Mr. Philip Shekwo, that the assembly members   pocketed   N7.78bn   constituency allowance given to them by the state government in three years.”

He said, “The APC chairman does not have the moral right to ask us what we received either monthly or quarterly. It is only the people that voted us into office that have the mandate to do so.

“He (Shekwo) is not a member of our party and we are not members of his party. They (APC) are the people to tell us how much Al-Makura has collected in the last three years from the federation account and how much he has spent on projects.”

The lawmaker, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said   the governor would explain to the EFCC how he spent the state’s allocations.

But he neither said when the petition was written nor gave detailed information on its content.

On the alleged misuse of   constituency allowances given to the lawmakers, he said they   were ready to defend themselves if invited by the EFCC.

When our correspondent contacted the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity , Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, he said that the lawmakers’ petition   had not been brought to his attention.

“Even if they have written a petition to the commission, I am not yet aware of it,” he added.

Also, Al-Makura’s   Director of Press, Iliyasu Yakubu, said   he was not mandated to speak on the petition by the assembly members.

Meanwhile, the   national leadership of the PDP has advised Al-Makura to face his problems, instead of engaging in what it called APC’s “out-worn antics of blaming the Presidency and the PDP for their self-inflicted woes.”

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,   in a statement on Sunday, said the governor should look inward and find answers to his challenges as the chief executive of his state.

It said the idea of promoting trite excuses of external influence , sponsoring   protests as well as threatening and unleashing thugs on the state legislators   would not solve his problem.

Restating that it has no hands in the state’s political development,   the PDP said the impeachment move against Al-Makura remained a local issue in the state.

He added that the provisions of the   1999 Constitution were very clear on such processes.

The PDP said, “Nigerians may recall that at the wake of the impeachment move in Narasawa State that we came out clearly to restate our non-involvement in the saga and went ahead to charge our lawmakers across the country to ensure that their actions were strictly guided by the provisions of the law.

“We have also challenged the governor and the APC to provide evidence of the alleged involvement of the Presidency or the PDP in the crisis.

“However, we are shocked that instead of focusing on finding answers to his problems which must be connected with the bad governance that has characterised APC-led administrations in the country, the Nasarawa State governor declared war on the lawmakers, while unleashing APC thugs on them and stopping them from carrying out their constitutional duties.”

The party said it was astonished with the “series of unfounded allegations, insults, blackmails and threats sponsored against the Presidency and the PDP.” which are aimed at subverting constitutional provisions.

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Impeachment: Lawmakers drag Tanko Al-Makura to EFCC

Face your problems, PDP tells Al-Makura, APC

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has advised Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State to face his problems with his people instead of engaging in what it called All Progressives Congress “out-worn antics of blaming the Presidency and the PDP for their self-inflicted woes”.

Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa State Governor

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who stated this in a statement on Sunday said the governor should look inwards and find answers to his challenges as the chief executive of his state.

He said the idea of of promoting trite excuses of external influences, sponsoring of protests, threatening and unleashing thugs against the state legislators and levelling against the PDP would not solve the problem.

Restating that the PDP has no hands in the political development in Nasarawa State, Metuh said the impeachment move against Al-Makura remained a local issue in the state adding that the provisions of the laws and constitution of the nation were very clear on such processes.

He said, “Nigerians may recall that at the wake of the impeachment move in Narasawa state, we came out clearly to restate our non-involvement in the saga and went ahead to charge our lawmakers across the country to ensure that their actions are strictly guided by the provisions of the law.

“We have also severally challenged the governor and the APC to provide evidence of the alleged involvement of the Presidency or the PDP in the crisis.

“However, we are shocked that instead of focusing on finding answers for his problems which must be connected with the bad governance that has characterized APC-led administrations in the country, the Nasarawa state governor has declared war on the lawmakers, while unleashing APC thugs to attack them and stop them from carrying out their

constitutional duties.”

Metuh said his party was astonished with what he called “series of unfounded allegations, insults, blackmails and threats sponsored against the Presidency and the PDP,” which he said were aimed at subverting constitutional provisions, undermine democratic institutions and ultimately establish a reign of impunity in the state.

“Our advice to the APC and Nasarawa state governor is that in as much as neither the PDP nor the Presidency is involved in the impeachment saga, resorting to baseless allegations, cheap blackmails, threats and violence against the state legislature, the PDP and the Presidency will not help them,” he added.

Metuh said that Al-Makura and the APC must understand that the issue at stake was not a matter of political sentiments and threats, and that neither was it a matter of sponsoring protests and media propaganda, but that of democracy, accountability and the provisions of the laws and the constitution.

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Face your problems, PDP tells Al-Makura, APC

Al-Makura: Nasarawa Assembly, CJ clash worsens

The rift between the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and the state Chief Judge, Justice Umaru Dikko, over the constitution of a panel to probe Governor Umaru Al-Makura has worsened. The lawmakers have insisted that the panel remains ‘dissolved.’

Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura

The Assembly on Friday, again, dismissed the seven-man panel set up by Justice Dikko, insisting that the panel does not exist, as far as it is concerned.

The lawmakers had asked the Chief Judge to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against Al-Makura, as part of his impeachment process.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Security, Mr. Baba Ibaku, had on Wednesday said the lawmakers resolved to demand the dissolution of the panel during their emergency sitting at the House of Assembly complex last Monday.

The spokesperson for the lawmakers argued that the fact that the panel members held political positions in the state was against the provision of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Despite the lawmakers’ directive, the panel began its sitting on Thursday.

While speaking to SUNDAY PUNCH in an interview again on Friday, Ibaku insisted that the House had dissolved the panel. He said the lawmakers were still waiting for the CJ to re-constitute the investigative panel.

He said, “As far as the lawmakers are concerned, there is nothing like seven-man panel set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Dikko, and we have since dissolved them, waiting for the CJ to re-constitute a new panel.”

In a related development, the outlawed Ombatse cult and Eggon youths, who have backed the move to impeach the governor, were said to be poised for a showdown over the burning of a lawmaker, Muhammad Muluku’s car by youths suspected to be APC members.

Ibaku, however, said he and other members of the Assembly had not been associating with the groups. He said the lawmakers did not employ anybody to work for them.

He stated that if the groups were threatening, they had their reasons.

Ibaku, who could not confirm when the lawmakers would reconvene, stated that the lawmakers would sit when there was the need for them to do so.

The lawmaker noted that members of the Assembly would only sit at the complex when they discovered that the state was peaceful and conducive to their sitting. He said it would be difficult for the lawmakers to sit in the complex with youths burning tyres along the roads.

“We decided to sit at the Karu Local Government Area of the state recently because there was no peace in the state. We were told that some youths suspected to be APC loyalists set one of our members’ car ablaze at the Akuruba area of the state,” Ibaku said.

The Assembly, which began the impeachment process against Al-Makura a few weeks ago, could not reach him (the governor) to serve him the impeachment notice. It later published the impeachment notice in some national newspapers.

In his reaction on Friday, the Director of Press to Al-Makura, Ali Yakubu, dismissed threats by the lawmakers as their opinion.

He stated that the issue (of panel dissolution) was a constitutional matter, adding that Section 188 empowered the Chief Judge to constitute the seven-man panel to investigate the governor.

“It is a constitutional matter which empowers the CJ to constitute the seven-man panel to investigate the governor,” Yakubu stated.

He further said the lawmakers had done their part and that Dikko had also done his part.

Yakubu urged the lawmakers to leave the Chief Judge to perform his function as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution.

Meanwhile, constitutional experts have said the legislature lacks the power to interfere with the constitution and activities of an investigative panel in an impeachment process.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, told SUNDAY PUNCH that a House of Assembly could not appoint members of an impeachment panel and that only the Chief Judge reserved the right to do so.

He said, “With regard to the impeachment of a governor, you cannot act outside of the provisions of the Constitution. The power to appoint the panel is given to the Chief Judge. Each department has its own role.

“The role of the House of Assembly is the first stage of passing its resolution, mandating the Chief Judge to appoint panellists. And after the appointment, it is for the panel to look at the allegations and then the outcome of those allegations will go back to the House of Assembly. You can’t transgress your own limits.”

Oyetibo noted that the lawmakers had to wait for the panel to conclude its investigations, except there is “cogent and compelling evidence that they (members of the panel) are members of political parties.”

Similarly, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, stated that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly had no right to interfere with the panel. He also said the Chief Judge alone had the powers with regard to the composition of an impeachment panel.

“The House of Assembly does not have powers to dissolve the panel. They have no role to play in the composition. There are checks and balances. Their own is to sign the impeachment notice and for the Chief Judge to constitute the panel.

“Whether they are happy or unhappy about it (the composition), is totally irrelevant. It is the chief judge’s panel,” Osipitan stated.

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Al-Makura: Nasarawa Assembly, CJ clash worsens

Al-Makura refuse our offer to help - Kwankwaso

Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has faulted his Nasarawa State counterpart, Umaru Muktar Almakura’s type of politics, saying it was responsible for his predicament.

Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa State Governor

According to Kwankwaso, Almakura, currently facing impeachment launched by Nasarawa lawmakers, is too soft to be governor under President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kwankwaso told journalists in his office, yesterday, that “you cannot be a gentleman and hope to survive as governor under the present dispensation”.

He added, “A gentleman cannot be a good governor, you need to have so many faces because the game is rough and can’t accommodate a gentleman”.

The Kano governor said Almakura rebuffed intervention and expertise to assist him navigate troubled waters, adding: “He is too soft for my liking.

“On our volition, we suggested to him to allow us mobilise our foot soldiers. He refused. We also appealed to him to allow us come in physically. He refused; always distancing himself from such expertise that would assist him”.

The APC presidential hopeful lamented how Adamawa State fell like a pack of cards under impeached Governor Nyako, saying the gale of impeachment across APC controlled states was being instigated by the Presidency.

Kwankwaso opined that “the whole madness is a wicked calculations ahead of 2015”, pointing out: “It is not going to assist the PDP Federal Government retain power. We have had enough of this impunity, ruthlessness and we are closing ranks to chase them out of power by 2015; it would be too late for them to hoodwink anyone again”.

The Kano governor declared that President Jonathan was qualified for impeachment.

Al-Makura refuse our offer to help - Kwankwaso