Nasarawa Impeachment: State Assembly directs Chief Judge to set up investigative panel

The lawmakers have moved to impeach the governor, Tanko Al-Makura
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has directed the state Chief Judge, Suleiman Dikko, to set up a panel to investigate Governor Tanko Al-Makura, accused by lawmakers of committing impeachable offences.
State lawmakers launched impeachment proceedings against the governor last week, accusing him of 16 offences.
A seven-man panel to be named by the chief judge will examine the charges.
The directive to the chief judge was issued by the speaker of the state assembly, Musa Mohammed, (PDP – Nasarawa Central), after a motion moved by the majority leader Godiya Akwashiki (PDP), representing Nasarawa Eggon West constituency.
The motion, which was supported by Mohammed Baba Ibaku (PDP), representing Udege Loko constituency, was unanimously adopted by the 20 PDP lawmakers in the state assembly.
The motion was however rejected by all four All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in the house.
The investigative committee is expected to report to the House within seven days.
For months, Mr. Al-Makura, who is a member of the APC, has been embroiled in controversy with the PDP-led state assembly.
The lawmakers moved against the governor after the impeachment of the governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, last Tuesday.
The opposition APC accuses the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan of being behind the gale of impeachments against its governors, allegation the ruling party rejects.
On Wednesday, the Nasarawa lawmakers arrived at the assembly with heavy security around 6.30am, and began sitting at about 10am for about 15 minutes before departing to Abuja.