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Impeachment proceedings have been initiated by the Kano State House of Assembly against Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, due to allegations of serious misconduct, misuse of power, and violation of public trust.

During the plenary session, the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, officially introduced the impeachment notice. He indicated that this action aligned with Section 188 of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dala states that the notice details several accusations related to Abdussalam’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government in 2023–2024, along with actions he is said to have taken in his current role as deputy governor.

He informed legislators that the allegations focus on the misappropriation of local government funds, misuse of power, and other actions deemed impeachable according to the constitution.

Dala claimed that Abdussalam was involved in diverting funds intended for the operations of the local government councils while overseeing the administration of the state’s 44 councils. He asserted that from June 2023 to January 2024, the deputy governor received N1.5 million each month from all 44 local government areas.

The Majority Leader stated that the deal amounted to N66 million monthly for seven months, culminating in a total of N462 million. He characterized the purported payments as a grave violation of public trust that weakened faith in governance.

Dala further alleged that Abdussalam received additional payments from February to July 2024, under the pretext of performing special assignments. According to his statement, each local government council purportedly disbursed N3.255 million on a monthly basis over the course of six months, resulting in a cumulative total of around N726 million.

He asserted that the purported transactions breached the principles of transparency and accountability that public office holders are expected to uphold.

In connection with a different deal, the impeachment notice also alleged that the deputy governor had abused his position. Dala asserted that Abdussalam enabled transactions amounting to N10 million from each of the 44 local government councils to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited.

He stated that the payments, which amounted to N440 million, were purportedly made in violation of the state’s procurement and fiscal management regulations.

“The misuse of official capacity to confer undue advantage constitutes abuse of power and is contrary to the obligations of public office,” the majority leader said while presenting the notice.

He stated that the totality of the allegations constitutes gross misconduct as per the definition in Section 188(2) of the constitution.

Dala provided an explanation that gross misconduct encompasses serious constitutional breaches or significant misdeeds committed by a public official. He contended that the supposed misappropriation of funds and misuse of position constituted a basic violation of constitutional and ethical norms.

The House was notified by the Majority Leader that the impeachment notice had the support of 38 legislators, meeting the constitutional threshold necessary to commence the process.

He pressed the Speaker to guarantee that the notice is sent to the deputy governor as per legal requirements.

“Based on the foregoing allegations, we hereby resolve that His Excellency, Aminu Abdussalam, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, be impeached and removed from office in accordance with the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Dala said.

After the presentation, Assembly members indicated their backing for the notice. The Speaker recognized the receipt of the document and is anticipated to formally inform the deputy governor as mandated by law.

According to constitutional procedures, the House may ask the state’s Chief Judge to form an investigative panel after the notice is served, provided that the motion achieves the constitutionally mandated majority.

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