Update:Lawyers representing Nasarawa Assembly take leave from Impeachment panel
Barrister Oche Ulegede just led members of members of the legal representatives for the House, to take their leave because members of the assembly will not participate in the breach of the constitution. The governor’s counsel rose, but did not object to the decision of the counsel to the law makers. He said the […]
Barrister Oche Ulegede just led members of members of the legal representatives for the House, to take their leave because members of the assembly will not participate in the breach of the constitution.
The governor’s counsel rose, but did not object to the decision of the counsel to the law makers. He said the legal team of the House has the right to file out of the proceedings, if they so wish.
The panel chairman, Yusuf Shehu Usman informed Ulegede that the panel took note of their appearance, and the protest, but added that the panel was not the right place to vent such grievances.
Ulegede just told newsmen outside during an interview that they would have expected the panel to disqualify themselves, just as he picked holes in the guidelines used by the panel in its proceedings.
Meanwhile, the proceedings continues, with the governor’s lead counsel on his feet now, asking the panel to dismiss the case. He is citing Section 280 of the Criminal Procedures Act which states that when a case is called for hearing and the prosecution fails to make appearance, the court is at liberty to dismiss it. He said Paragraph Seven (c) of the panel’s guidelines was clear on the matter.
Paragraph 7 (c) of the panel’s guidelines states that: “Where the House of Assembly fails or neglects to appear and lead evidence in proof of the allegations, the panel, upon proof of service may dismiss the allegations.”
The lead counsel pleaded with the panel to invoke Paragraph 7 (c) because it is in tandem with the provisions of Section 280 of the Criminal Procedures Act
The panel just announced a stand down for members to deliberate and return with appropriate decision on the matter.
EARLIER TODAY.
Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA), who earlier on declared that they have no business to do with the panel investigating the allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, have made a U-Turn and are appearing at the public hearing of the investigating into their notice of impeachment.
The members are not in the hall of the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy in Lafia, venue of the public hearing, but they are been represented by a team of counsels headed by Barrister Oche P. Ulegede. The other members of the legel representation are: John Mathew, P.A. Daffi, S.O. Idikwu, O.D. Obande, and A.O. Aruta.
Lead counsel of the legislators, Oche Ulegede just announced appearance. He said the lawmakers’ legal representatives are appearing in protest.
“Our appearance this morning for the House, is on protest,” Ulegede said.
He said the whole process about the impeachment is constitutional, but added that his clients, the governor, the Chief Judge of the state, all swore to protect and defend the constitution.
Giving the grounds of his protest, Ulegede said Section 188 (5) of the same constitution has been violated by the CJ in the constitution of the panel, observing that members of the panel are either registered members of the PDP, or friends of the governor.
He said his clients, the lawmakers are not running away from the panel, but feel strongly against the suitability of panel members.
However, the four members of the APC, who were present during the first day of the public hearing on Monday, are absent in the hall today. They are: Tanko Adamu Maikatako (APC, Lafia Central), who is also the House Minority Leader, as well as Ibrahim Bala (APC, Keffi-West), Othman Bala Adam (APC, Keffi-East), and Tanko Tunga (APC, Awe-North).
The governor is still been represented at the hearing by Chief Udechukwu Nnoruka Udechukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The other members of the legal team are: Olufunke Aboyade (SAN), Professor Earnest Ojukwu, Kehinde Aina, O.O. Adeleye, Olatoye Akinbode, Abdulwasi Musah, Chibuikem Mbachu, and Benjamin Nwosu.
The panel began the public sitting on Monday, and had to adjourn after it announced that the 20 signatories of the impeachment notice were absence. The panel decided to send a fresh hearing notice of hearing to the members to appear today.