Also, the lawmakers have suspended eight councillors indefinitely from the local government area.
The eight affected councillors are Danjuma Padalo, Iddah Ward; Adamu Abdulaziz, Kagarko South Ward; Livinus Makama, Aribi Ward; and Samson Hazo, Katugal Ward.
Others are, Amos Egoh, Kushe Ward; Idris Abubakar, Jere North Ward; Zakaria Musa, Kukui Ward; and Rabo Musa, Kurmin Jibrin Ward.
Sources close to the House of Assembly, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said their suspension was not unconnected with the illegal impeachment of Nasara Rabo, the Council Chairman, without due process and gross violation of office.
On November 2, 2023, the eight councillors impeached the council chairman while the Ad-hoc Committee of the 10th Assembly was carrying out its investigation on the allegations of misappropriation of funds levelled against the chairman.
Meanwhile, in a letter of recall of the Chairman dated November 3, 2023, and signed by the Clerk of the Assembly, Sakinatu Idris, the House ordered the immediate reinstatement of Rabo, saying the allegations levelled against him lacked merit.
The source added that the eight councillors were desperate and refused to follow the guidelines for impeachment.
“They even refused to allow for a fair hearing,” the source added.
In another development, the 10th Assembly, through the clerk of the House, in a letter dated November 20, 2023, obtained by our correspondent and directed to the Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government Affairs and the reinstated Chairman, ordered the immediate suspension of the eight local government councillors.
The letter read in part, “Based on the oversight function by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Local Government, the 10th Assembly has resolved and directed me to notify you that it has suspended the eight councillors indefinitely until further notice.
“The affected councillors are also expected not to be seen within the vicinity of the Secretariat pending investigation.
“The ministry should inform the affected councillors of Kagarko Local Government and the Local Government Service Board on the development. The ministry should not engage the affected councillors in any official activity pending investigation.
“The councillors are directed to hand over all government properties/documents in their possession to the clerk of the Legislative Council until further notice.”
