House of Assembly serves impeachment notice to deputy governor
House of Assembly serves impeachment notice to deputy governor
The Kano State House of Assembly formally notified the deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, of impeachment proceedings, following to allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust related to his actions as commissioner for local government.
The embattled deputy governor has refused to join Governor Abba Yusuf to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The legislators said the formal notice is in compliance with section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
Count one, breach of public trust, reads:
“It is alleged that his Excellency Aminu Abdulsalam, while serving as commissioner for local government and entrusted with the general control and administration of 44 local government areas of the state, willfully participated in the diversion of funds allocated to local government administrations for purposes other than those for which they were appropriated. Thus between the period of June 2023 to January 2024, did receive a return a kick back of aggregate sum of 1,500,000 from each of the 44 local government making 66 million monthly for seven months totaling the sum of 462 million for personal or improper benefit. This therefore constitutes a breach of public trust, undermining the integrity of the office and eroding confidence in public governance. Such conduct violates the principles of accountability and transparency expected of a public officer in the caliber of a deputy governor under the Constitution.”
Count two alleged that his Excellency Aminu Abdulsalam, while serving as commissioner for local government and entrusted with the general control and administration of 44 local government areas of the state, willfully participated in the diversion of funds allocated to local government administrations for purposes other than those for which they were appropriated.
“Thus between the period of February 2024 to July 2024, did received a cash a cash return under the guise of executing certain special assignment, the aggregate sum of 3,255,000 from each of the 44 local government making it 142.2 million monthly for six months totaling the sum of 726 million for personal or improper benefit. This constitute a breach of public trust, undermining the integrity of the office and eroding confidence in public governance. Such conduct violates the principles of accountability and transparency expected of a public officer in the caliber of a deputy governor under the Constitution.”
Count three reads that Mr Abdulsalam is alleged to have abused his office by using his position as commissioner for local government to facilitate the release for personal or improper benefit with intent to confer undue advantage for reason of for reason of 10 million by each of the 44 local government councils of the state totaling 440 million to Novomed Pharmaceutical Limited in contravention of public procurement law of state.
The legislators further said the misuse of official capacity is a direct contravention of the obligations of public office and constitutes an abuse of power as contemplated under section 182 sub 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The the actions described above taken collectively amount to gross misconduct within the meeting within the meaning and completion of section 188 sub 2 of the Constitution. Gross misconduct is defined as a grave violation or breach of prohibition of the Constitution or other serious wrongdoing.
The Assembly said the diversion of local government funds and abuse of office by the deputy governor represent a fundamental disregard for constitutional norms and the ethics standards required for for public officials.
“Resolution, sir, with the undersigned members in light of the foregoing, it is resolved that his Excellency Aminu Abdulsalam, the deputy governor of State be impeached and removed from office in accordance with the public with the procedure set out in section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the notice read.
