The embattled Governor Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura has described as unconstitutional the call on the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to dissolve the seven-man panel set up by him to investigate the impeachment allegations leveled against the governor.
Al- Makura who spoke through his lead counsel for the governor, Chief Udechukwu Udechukwu (SAN), said that the Chief Judge lacked the power to disband the panel without first obtaining a court order.
According to Udechukwu, who is leading other lawyers in Al-Makura’s legal team, including Mrs. Olufunke Aboyade (SAN) and Ernest Ojukwu, the procedure of removing a governor is strictly governed by Section 188 (1) to (11) of the constitution.
He added that in line with Section 287 (1), (2) or (3) of the 1999 constitution the Chief Judge lacked the powerto dissolve an investigative panel after setting it up without an order of court.
He said, “Once the Chief Judge has set up a panel of seven persons to investigate an Impeachment allegation against the government under Section 188 (5) of the constitution at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, he lacks any authority to call for the dissolution of the panel set up by him.
“The Chief Judge has no constitutional power to disband the panel after setting it up under section 188 (5) of the 1999 constitution.
“He can only disband the panel in obedience to a court order by virtue of Section 287 (1), (2) or (3) of the 1999 constitution.”
He accused the members of the House of Assembly behind the impeachment process and subsequently calling for the dissolution of the panel of acting in bad faith.
“In the first place, they did not serve any notice of impeachment on the governor. They made no rules for the impeachment procedure and their call for disbandment of the panel was made outside the legislative chamber. What is on display is nothing short of legislative impunity,” he added.
The panel, headed by Yusuf Usman, was set up to investigate the 16 counts of impeachment charges leveled against the governor by the lawmakers.
