The panel constituted by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Suleiman Dikko, to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Tanko Umaru Al-Makura has dismissed all the charges against him.
The seven-man panel dismissed the charges after concluding its work and listening to the legal team which represented members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly today.
On Monday, the Assembly seemingly bent on impeaching the governor, had declared the inauguration of the panel by the state’s chief judge as “unconstitutional,” saying it would stay away from the probe before later sending a team of lawyers led by Ocha Ulegede to represent it at the panel’s hearing venue.
Ulegede, who presented a protest letter from the legislators, submitted an argument that some members of the panel were also members of a political party whose appointments negate the provision of Section 188 in the composition of the panel.
“Section 188 of the constitution spelt out clearly how the panel should be composed. They are three fundamental issues among which is that member of the panel cannot be a card carrying member of a political party. They cannot hold government appointment and that the panel does not have the power to set the rules of proceeding guiding the sitting.”
The legislators’ legal team said two members of the seven-member panel, Abdu Usman and Mohammed Keana, are members of the Peoples Democratic Part (PDP).
Al-Makura had appeared before the panel on Monday, insisting that he has not done anything wrong.
