Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura has fought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state dominated House of Assembly, coming out of it all victorious. His neck has just been saved from the impeachment noose from the lawmakers.
The Investigative Panel set up by the State Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko to investigate the governor for alleged misconduct and breaches of the constitution has dismissed the impeachment notice and the allegations.
This, according to the panel, is due to the failure of the state’s House of Assembly to lead evidence in support of the allegations.
The chairman of the panel, Yusuf Shehu Usman said that the House did not lead ‘any iota of evidence’ in support of the 16 allegations against the governor.
Usman said: “Having considered and dismissed each allegation for lack of proof.
“Having found no merit in the allegations, the panel hereby dismiss all the allegations.
“In accordance with the constitution, the panel will send its report to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.”
The panel held that in criminal proceeding, the onus was on the person who alleged to prove and that since the state’s lawmakers had failed to prove the allegations, the panel had no choice but to dismiss the allegations.
It also held that in civil cases, the onus to prove was on the person who would lose if no evidence was led and that since the house of assembly failed to adduce evidence in support of the allegation, the house stood to lose.
Signs of the governor’s victory showed yesterday when neither lawmakers making the allegations against the governor nor any of their legal representation was present as the panel began sitting.
Chairman of the panel was forced to adjourn hearing to today to give the lawmakers one more chance to appear to prove their case against governor Al-Makura. [myad]
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