….initiates impeachment proceedings
The Kano State House of Assembly has formally initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, citing allegations of gross misconduct and the illicit diversion of local government funds.
During a plenary session on Thursday, House Majority Leader Lawan Hussaini Dala presented the impeachment notice, which was subsequently signed by 38 lawmakers to satisfy the constitutional requirements stipulated in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
Following the endorsement, the Aseembly Speaker, Ismail Falgore issued a directive for the formal charges to be served on the Deputy Governor without delay.
The allegations primarily focus on Gwarzo’s conduct during his dual roles as Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between 2023 and 2024.
The petition details a series of financial irregularities totaling approximately ₦1.6 billion, including claims that Gwarzo received monthly kickbacks of ₦1.5 million from each of the state’s 44 local government areas over an eight-month period.
Additionally, the lawmakers allege that a further ₦726 million was extracted from local councils for vaguely defined special assignments, while another ₦440 million was reportedly paid to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited in a manner that allegedly bypassed state procurement regulations.
The Majority Leader, Dala argued that the findings represent a significant abuse of power and a breach of the public trust, necessitating a formal constitutional inquiry.
This legislative action coincides with a period of heightened political tension in Kano, sparked by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While the Governor has shifted his political allegiance, Gwarzo has maintained his membership in the NNPP, creating a visible rift within the state’s executive leadership.
As the constitutional process unfolds, the House will await a formal response from the Deputy Governor. If the proceedings advance, the Chief Judge of Kano State will be tasked with empaneling a seven-member investigative committee to review the evidence and provide the Deputy Governor an opportunity to defend himself against the charges.
At the time of this report, the Deputy Governor’s office has not released a statement addressing the specific accusations leveled by the Assembly.
