By Abel Daniel

LAFIA — Governor Umaru Al‑Makura of Nasarawa state, yesterday appeared before the investigating panel over allegations of gross misconduct filed against him by the state House of Assembly and vowed to challenge violation of his rights.

Gov. Al-Makura

Appearing before the 7-man panel which commenced its sitting at about 8;30, Al‑Makura, complained that he had not been served with impeachment notice by the House but chose to appear on receiving the hearing notice out of respect for the panel.

The lawmakers however boycotted the panel and refused to send any representative.

Governor Al-Makura said, AI intend to challenge the violation of my right to proper service of the notice of impeachment against me. I however decided to appear in order to clear my name@.

He also stated that his team of lawyers were very prepared to continue with his defence and urged the panel to do the right thing in the interest of the state.

Chairman of the panel, Yusuf Usman said that the state assembly was neither at the hearing nor sent representative after having been duly served with the hearing notice by the panel to substantiate their 16 counts charges against the governor. He thereafter directed the secretary of the panel to paste the hearing notice on the notice board of the panel as well as the gate of the state assembly.

Following the refusal of the Assembly to appear of send representative, Al-Makura=s counsel Chief Udechukwu Nnoruka Udechukwu, SAN, urged the panel to dismiss the allegations against the governor citing paragraph 7(c) of the ruled of the panel which stipulated that where the assembly fails or neglect to appear and lead evidence in proof of the allegations, the panel, upon proof of service may dismiss allegations.

He argued that the position of the law on the guidelines of the panel was in tandem with section 280 of the Criminal Procedure law, adding that the panel does not have to wait for three months to finish its work

According to him, “since the state assembly members have failed to appear to substantiate the allegations against the governor, the panel has no option than to dismiss the allegations and enter a no proof verdict.”

Udechukwu also submitted that apart from the publication in national dailies, the panel does not have copies of the impeachment notice as required by the constitution.

Consequently, the panel chairman Yusuf Usman said “having consulted, the panel does not disagree with the submissions of the Governor’s counsel.

Earlier the chairman of the House committee on information Hon Baba Ibaku condemned the sitting by the panel saying that the panel members cannot sit until the Assembly has supplied the panel with a guideline.