Impeachment: CJ constitutes panel to investigate Kogi Deputy Governor

The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Nasir Ajanah, has constituted a
seven-member panel to investigate the allegations of gross
misconduct levelled against Deputy Governor Simon Achuba by the
state House of Assembly.

Mr Ajanah disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Lokoja, the
state capital.

He said the constitution of the panel was in line with the
provisions of section 188 of the constitution of Federal Republic
of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“By virtue of section 188 (7) (b) of the 1999 constitution, the
panel has three (3) months within which to submit its report to the
assembly,” he said.

The Chairman of the panel is John Baiyeshea, (SAN), while
Bilikisu Abdulmalik Basher, William A. Aliwo, Z. A. Asun, Isa
Adeboye, Muhammed A. Aikoye and Ada Shaibu are members.

Deputy Chief Registrar, Special Duties, Bamidele Aina, at the
state high court will serve as Secretary of the panel.

Mr Ajanah said the panel would be inaugurated on August 26 at
the Conference Hall of the state High Court Complex, Lokoja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that state House had
during its plenary on August 20 called on the Chief Judge, to
constitute a panel of Inquiry to investigate allegations of gross
misconduct against Mr Achuba.

The House made the request following adoption of a motion by
Majority Leader, Abdullahi Bello-Balogun (APC-Ajaokuta), calling
for investigation into the allegations towards impeachment of the
deputy governor.

The House request came simultaneously with an interim
restraining order from a state high court, asking the Chief Judge
not to act on the request for the constitution of the panel.

Read also: Falana asks court to speed up hearing of Sowore
application

The court presided over by a vacation judge, Abdul Nicodemus
Awulu, issued the interim restraining order on August 20, while
ruling on a suit filed before it by the embattled deputy
governor.

Mr Achuba also sought to restrain the defendants from taking
further steps in investigating the said allegations pending the
final determination of the case.

The House, also in a quick reaction to the court’s ruling,
applied for an order, vacating and/or discharging the interim order
of injunction granted expate by the court.

The House asked that the ruling be set aside because the court
lacked the jurisdiction to disallow it from performing its
constitutional duties and that the claimant misrepresented
facts.

The Chief Judge vacated the order before constituting the
panel.

(NAN)

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Clement Agba Resumes at Ministry of Budget, National
Planning

The new Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National
Planning, Mr. Clement Agba has told the Management and staff of the
Ministry that attending to Mr. President’s promise to deliver the
2020 Budget to the National Assembly by September 2019, remains his
immediate target.

Mr Agba made this declaration today, at the reception and
Hand-over ceremony of the Ministry’s Affairs by the Permanent
Secretary, held at the Conference Room of the Ministry.

He therefore called for co-operation, and commitment of staff,
to achieve this and other mandates of the Ministry in line with the
next level agenda of the Government, stressing that the only way to
succeed is to work together as well as working smartly in the
discharge of their duties.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary Mr. Ernest Umakhihe
formally welcomed the Minister and assured him of Staff readiness,
dedication to work with him to achieving the objectives of
Government and the onerous tasks ahead.

Mr. Umakhihe also apprised the Minister with the key mandate of
the Ministry which include; advising the Government of the
Federation on matters relating to National Development and overall
management of the national economy; and providing Budget functions,
implementing Budget and fiscal policies of the Federal Government
of Nigeria

According to the Permanent Secretary, one of the enviable
achievements of the immediate past dispensation was ensuring the
stability and growth of the Nigerian economy when it went into
recession.

“This was done through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
(ERGP), a short medium term plan spanning the period 2017-2020. The
ERGP is now being concluded and arrangements are ongoing to put in
act a successor plan aimed at consolidating the gains of the ERGP
and to also act as a Roadmap for the Next Level agenda of the
Government” continued Mr. Umakhihe.

Director General – NISER, Dr. Folarin Gbadebo Smith, in his vote
of thanks, congratulated the minister and pledged on behalf of the
Ministry to give maximum support to the minister to actualize his
plans for the Ministry.

Victoria Agba-Attah
Director Information, MBNP