BREAKING NEWS: Taraba deputy governor impeached

Posted by: stiphbami in News Nov 5, 2012

After weeks of controversies, Mr. Abubakar has been kicked out of the deputy governor�s seat in Taraba State.

The Taraba State House of Assembly on Thursday removed the state�s Deputy Governor, Sani Abubakar, from office on allegations of fraud and abuse of office, ending weeks of sparring between Mr. Danladi and the lawmakers.

Majority of the state�s lawmakers, 20 of the 24 members of the Assembly, voted to uphold the recommendations of a seven-member judicial commission of inquiry. The commission was named by the state�s Acting Chief Judge, Josephine Tuktur, to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the former deputy governor.

The commission said it found Mr. Abubakar guilty of the allegations of gross misconduct.

The House Majority Leader, representing Karim I Constituency, Charles Maijankai, moved the motion for the adoption of the report.

The report said Mr. Abubakar used his office to divert Millennium Development Goals, MDG, projects to Yagai Academy, a private school, owned by him. It also indicted the former deputy governor of using his office to influence the posting of an officer and interfering in the affairs of his Karim-Lamido local government.

The panel also said the third allegation that Mr. Abubakar did not convene a meeting of the state Boundary Commission, showed his incompetence.

In impeaching Mr. Abubakar, both the House and the commission ignored the case filed by the former deputy governor against the composition and membership of the commission of inquiry.The case is still before a Taraba Court.

Mr. Abubakar�s downfall has been blamed on his tenuous relationship with the governor, Danbaba Suntai, who is said have become uncomfortable with Mr. Danladi�s rise and affiliations with his political rivals.

Analysts have questioned why the charges, committed years back, surfaced at time the two chief executives fell apart.

Mr. Abubakar was amongst those slated for the controversial national awards in Abuja two weeks ago, but was dropped reportedly on account of the scandal.

The state lawmakers have denied working for the governor. They also denied the allegations that they received N100 million for the removal.

Earlier reports suggested Mr. Abubakar may be replaced with either Jerry Manwe, a member of the House of Representatives, or the present Chairman of Jalingo Local Government, Hassan Bappa.

Another name was Ahmed Yusuf, who ran for governorship under the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and returned to the PDP in an elaborate event in Jalingo, the state capital, recently.

It remains unclear who will be taking that position.

Culled from premium times