Fatimah Otunsanya
The Kano State House of Assembly has begun impeachment proceedings against the Kano State Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
The Majority Leader, Lawan Husseini Dala, who read out the notice during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Jibrin Falgore, said 38 members have signed the proceedings.
Dala said the move followed allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor.
He said formal notice by the Kano State House of Assembly is in compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
According to him, “This article of impeachment is a formal notice by the Kano State House of Assembly in compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended against Aminu Abdussalam, containing herein allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust arising from his actions when he oversaw the Ministry for Local Government as Commissioner between 2023 and 2024 and while serving as Deputy Governor of Kano State, all of which are impeachable offences.
“The following counts outline the specific allegations and the form of basis for the call for impeachment and removal from office. Count one, breach of public trust. It is alleged that His Excellency Aminu Abdussalam, while serving as Commissioner for Local Government and entrusted with the general control and administration of 44 local government areas of the state, wilfully 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 and January 2024, it did receive in return a kickback of an aggregate sum of N1,500,000 million from each of the 44 local governments, making N66 million monthly for seven months, totalling the sum of 462 million naira 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 of the calibre of a deputy governor under the constitution.
“Count number two, breach of public trust. It is also alleged that His Excellency Aminu Abdussalam, while serving as Commissioner for Local Government and entrusted with the general control and administration of 44 local government areas of the state, wilfully 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 and July 2024, they did receive a cash return under the guise of executing certain special assignments, the aggregate sum of N3,255,000 from each month, totalling the sum of N726 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 of the calibre of a deputy governor under the constitution.
“Count number three, abuse of office. Aminu Abdussalam is further alleged to have abused his office by using his position as Commissioner for Local Government to facilitate the release of personal or improper benefit with intent to confer a new advantage for the reason of N10 million by each of the 44 local government councils of the state, totalling N440 million to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited in contravention of the Financial Procurement Law of Kano State, Kano State Fiscal Management Law and other extended rules and regulations. This 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.
“Count four, gross misconduct. 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 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 public officials.
“Resolutions are, with the under-assigned members, in light of the foregoing, His Excellency, Aminu Abdussalam, the deputy governor of Kano State, be impeached and removed from office in accordance with the procedure set out in section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The signatories, we are 38 members signed this document. We wish your approval that you will hand it to the person whom this notice is concerned with. That’s the deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam,” Dala said.
The Speaker, Falgore, approved that the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, be served with the notice.
However, it was also gathered that the deputy governor is given two weeks to defend himself against the allegations.
