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Tag: Kano State House of Assembly

  • APC leads Kano Assembly with 27 members, PDP 12

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is leading the Kano State House of Assembly with 27 members.

    The electoral ombudsman also said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 12 members.

    The INEC Public Relations Officer in the state, Alhaji Garba Lawal, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kano.

    According to him, the PDP has won the assembly seats in Ungoggo, Gezawa, Bebeji, Kibiya, Kumbotso, Rogo and Dawakin Kudu Local Government Areas.

    He added that other constituencies won by the PDP candidates included Kano Municipal, Gwale, Tarauni, Dala and Fagge.

    Lawal said that the APC won at Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Doguwa, Kiru, Sumaila, Wudil, Makoda, Tudun Wada, Minjibir, Ajingi, Dawakin Tofa and Kabo state constituencies.

    The INEC spokesperson said the ruling APC also won in Bichi, Warawa, Karaye, Rano, Gabasawa, Danbatta, Garko, Gwarzo, Albasu, Tofa/Rimin Gado and Gaya Local Government Areas.

    According to him, Takai, Bagwai, Shanono, Bunkure, Madobi and Kura Local Government Areas were also won by the APC, while that of the Nasarawa Local Government Area was declared inconclusive.

    According to him, that of the Nasarawa constituency would be conducted together with that of the governorship supplementary poll on March 23.

  • Kano Assembly has no right to investigate Ganduje – Court

    A Kano High Court presided over by Justice  A.T. Badamasi on Thursday granted an Order of Injunction restraining Kano state House of Assembly Investigative Committee from further investigating the alleged $5 million kickbacks involving Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    The Court which earlier ordered the state House of Assembly to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the originating summon, filed by the National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, Bar. Mohammed Zubair, ruled in favour of the plaintiff.

    The Nation recalled that Bar. Zubair on behalf of himself and the Lawyers for Sustainable  Democracy in Nigeria, sued Kano State House of Assembly, chairman of the Investigative Committee on the bribery allegation against Governor Ganduje (Baffa Babba Danagundi) and the state Attorney-General, challenging the constitutionality of the House investigating the bribery allegation, which is a criminal case.

    In the last sitting before the judgement, Counsel to the plaintiff, Bar. Nuraini Jimoh, argued that Kano state House of Assembly has no powers to investigate the criminal allegations against Governor Ganduje.

    According to him, the state House of Assembly only has the powers to make laws, establishing an anti-graft agency which, by law, can investigate such matter.

    In his submission, the state Attorney-General, Ibrahim Muktar, who is also the Third Defendant to the case, aligned himself with the position of the Counsel to the plaintiff.

    According to him, “by virtue of my office, my own is to follow the law. I have perused the application, I stand with the plaintiff and I adopt all the processes by the plaintiff, including his argument.”

    The Attorney-General also urged the Court to disregard the counter affidavit filed by the First and Second defendants, arguing that, “it is not safe for the Court to rely on the entire affidavit,” because the identity of the witness was not disclosed.

    Citing section 115 of the Evidence Act (2011), he insisted that the affidavit lacked credibility.

    The Attorney-General further stated that, “coming back to the main issue whether the state House of Assembly has the powers to investigate criminal allegations, no power under section 128 (1) is given to the House of Assembly to investigate the case.”

    According to him, “section 128 (2) of the constitution gave the House of Assembly the powers to expose corruption, and not the powers to engage in criminal investigation which was being conducted by the House of Assembly.”

    He cited Exhibit one of the case (letter of invitation by the Assembly to the Governor) where the phrase “bribery allegation” was used, insisting that “bribery” can only be attributed to a crime.

    According to him, section 128 (1) of the constitution gave the House of Assembly the powers to make laws establishing anti-corruption agencies, and not the powers to investigate criminal cases.

    He insisted that, “it was a criminal trial or investigation that was being conducted by the House of Assembly. This is wrong because it is the statutory responsibility of the police to investigate crime.

    “Members of the state House of Assembly are not experts in criminal investigation. They are not trained investigators. I submit that the House of Assembly has no capacity, whatsoever, to conduct criminal investigation because section 36 (5) and section 208 of the constitution gave the police the powers to investigate crime. So, section 128 of the constitution should not be in isolation on the issue before the Court.”

    He argued further that the proceedings by the House Investigative Committee was not a fact-finding exercise as claimed by the defendants, but a criminal investigation, adding that, “in the interest of justice law says that House of Assembly has no right to conduct criminal investigation.

    “The Kano state House of Assembly or any other state Assembly, including the National Assembly has no powers to engage in investigation of criminal allegation because it will lead to injustice against the person accused.”

    He urged the Court to grant the applications filed by the plaintiff in the interest of justice.

    In his argument, Counsel to the defendants, Barr. Mohammed Waziri told the Court that the Kano state House of Assembly Investigative Panel engaged in a fact-finding mission, and not investigation of criminal allegation.

    According to him, “I want to emphasize that there is no doubt that what the State House of Assembly is investigating is allegations of crime against the Governor, by doing so, they are exercising their power to expose crime—it is now for the judge to differentiate between crime and corruption.”

    Delivering his judgment on Thursday, Justice Badamasi ruled in favour of the plaintiff, stating that the power of investigation by the state House of Assembly as contained in Section 128 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “is not absolute, nor at large. It is restricted by sub-section two of the same Section,”

    According to the Judge, the content of Exhibit one which is the Invitation Letter to Governor Ganduje to appear before the seven-man investigative committee indicated that it was not set up to gather facts, but to investigate the criminal allegations against Ganduje, which the House has no power to do so.

    The Judge noted that the powers of the House as contained in Section 128 is restricted to make laws setting up a panel that can investigate criminal allegation.

    The Judge also noted that investigation of crime or criminal allegations is the responsibility of the executive arm through the police or any other anti-graft agency, as the House can only invite members of the public on matters that has to do with making laws.

    Counsels to both the plaintiff and the defendants congratulated the Judge for his deep sense of judgement and agreed to abide by it.

     

  • Ganduje: Maintain status quo ante, Court tells Kano Assembly

    …Adjourns case to November 21

     

     

    A Kano High Court on Monday again ordered the Kano state House of Assembly Investigative Committee and all parties involved in the investigation of alleged $5 million bribery saga involving Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the originating summon, filed by the National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, Bar. Mohammed Zubair.

    When the case came up for hearing, Bar. Kalid Abdullatif who stood in for Bar. Nuraini Jimoh, lead counsel to the plaintiff, stated that going by Order 29, Rule 1 and Order 28, Rule 1 and 4 of the Rules of the Court, 2014, the application filed on behalf of the plaintiff on November 5, 2018, restraining the defendants, Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Baffa Babba Dan Agundi and the state Attorney-General from further investigation of the bribery allegation, still subsist.

    According to him, “the application still remains an Order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the defendants, either by themselves, agents, privies, or officials, or other persons, whosoever, from further inviting anybody, questioning, examining, making any further Press Releases, releasing or playing any further video tapes, investigation or further proceedings, with the, or any bribery allegation against  His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, or anybody, whatsoever, therewith, pending the determination of the substantive  suit before this Honourable Court.”

    Bar. Abdullatif further argued that the act of the defendants to have constituted a Committee to investigate the bribery allegation against Governor Ganduje remains, “unconstitutional.”

    However, counsel to the Kano state House of Assembly (first defendant) and Investigative Committee Chairman, Hon. Baffa Babba Dan Agundi (second defendant), Bar. Mohammed Sa’ad Waziri, described his clients as law-abiding citizens who would not breach the law in any way.

    According to him, “before I proceed, I wish to state that the First and Second defendants are law-makers and law-abiding citizens. The Order came a day to the date slated to listen to witnesses at the Investigative Panel.

    “Since then, no step has been taken by the state House of Assembly or the Investigative Committee to breach the law. This is to tell you that Kano state House of Assembly is law-abiding. The Assembly has no intention whatsoever to take any further steps until the subsisting matter is decided upon because constitutional issues are being raised.”

    The Third Defendant who is also the state Attorney-General, Bar. Ibrahim Muktar did not object to the prayers of counsel to the plaintiff.

    In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice A.T. Badamasi, ordered all the parties involved in the case to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the Originating Summon.

    He commended counsel to the defendants for advising his clients wisely and adjourned the case to November 21 for further hearing.

     

  • Kano: Lawmaker accuses Kwankwasiyya of plotting to cause mayhem

    … It’s a lie, says Kwankwasiyya

     

    The Chief Whip of Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Baffa Babba Danagundi Thursday in Kano raised an alarm over alleged plot by the Kwankwasiyya Group led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to unleash terror in Kano on Sallah day.

    Danagundi who is representing Kano Municipal, covering the Emir’s Palace, in a letter dated 13th June, 2018, signed by him, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris and made available to The Nation, called on the police and other security agencies to come to the rescue of his constituency and save it on impending mayhem allegedly sponsored by the Kwankwasiyya Group.

    The letter copied to the state Governor, Dr.  Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi 11, Speaker Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Yusuf Attah and the state Director of Civil Defence, accused leaders of the Kwankwasiyya Group of sponsoring miscreants to cause breach of the peace in Kano Municipal during the Sallah celebration.

    Danagundi accused former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Rabiu Bichi, former Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Water Resources to ex-Governor Kwankwaso, Dr. Haruna Adamu Dangwani of hatching a new plan to destabilize Kano.

    According to Danagundi in the letter entitled ‘Notification of Illegal Activities of Kwankwasiyya People in Kano Under the Leadership of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso,’ “I write to formally invite the kind attention of the Inspector-General of Police to recall the unfortunate incidence which occurred during the last year’s Sallah festivities at the Emir’s Palace, Kano where teeming supporters of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kano, converged at the Emir’s Palace with the sole purpose to disturb public peace which the good people and Government of Kano enjoy.

    “The Inspector-General of Police may wish to further recall that during the said incidence in which fight broke out within themselves due to failure to settle the amount promised the hired thugs.

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    “It took the intervention of the police and men of the State Security Services to rescue the victims and restore peace, otherwise, many people could have been killed in the mayhem.

    “The said former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, former Principal Private Secretary, Dr. Haruna Adamu Dangwani (currently under investigation of an allegation of terrorism) and the former Commissioner for State Affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam, are believed to be hatching new plans for organizing another illegal gathering capable of causing public disturbances during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations.

    “In view of the information available to me and as the member representing Kano Municipal where the Sallah festivities take place, I find it appropriate to draw the attention of your good offices to note that anything that might occur to disrupt peaceful atmosphere of my Local Government and the state at large as a result of activities of Kwankwasiyya people, the above identified persons should be held responsible.”

    Reacting to the allegations leveled against the Kwankwasiyya Group, former Commissioner for State Affairs under the administration of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam, debunked the allegations, describing them as false.

    According to him, “the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano and in Nigeria at large is known to be very peaceful. Our people are very organized. In spite of extreme provocations, we remain peaceful. We have been conducting ourselves in a peaceful manner in the last three years, even under extreme provocation by the state government and the likes of Dr. Baffa Babba Danagundi.

    “Let me place it on record that we are senior citizens and responsible citizens of Kano and will never be party to anything that will trouble in the state or breakdown of law and order in the state.

    “So, we refute the allegations and we dismiss all the claims raised in the letter by Hon. Baffa Danagundi as very untrue and false.”

  • Armed policemen take over Kano State Assembly Complex

     

    The Kano State House of Assembly has been sealed off  by Police, following alleged moves to impeach the speaker, Abdullahi Yusuf Ata by some members of the house.

    However,  sources close to the House who confided with this reporter said that as at Sunday night, 21 lawmakers have duly signed in support of the impeachment of the speaker.
    It was further  confirmed that already the principal officers of the house have been impeached  having got the 21 lawmakers’ signatures for their impeachment.
    “The principal officers have already been impeached by the signatures of 21 lawmakers. All what we need now is   only six members to meet the requirement of 2/3 to impeach the speaker without delay, “
    On why the lawmakers resolved to impeach the leaders of the house, the source said, “The reasons are many but the major one is incompetence. The speaker has virtually localised the house.”
    “We cannot sit until after 2pm and even at that things are not moving as expected. We cannot just continue like that because we are representing our constituencies.”
    Reacting to the impeachment move, the speaker of the House of Assembly, Ata, noted that as Muslim, who believe in destiny, he will accept his impeachment in good faith. 
     
    Ata, who spoke to newsmen said, the attempt by some members of the house to impeach him has nothing g to do with competence as alleged.
     
    He said “In anything there is starting and ending point. If Allah Has designed it that my time is off, nobody will extend it by a second. And if it is not time, nobody can remove me from office, that is my belief.
     
    “My happiness is that I didn’t not steal anybody’s money. So,  if today, they remove me from office, I will leave, but nobody will accuse me of stealing. I have a constituency that I am representing.
    However, the fierce-looking policemen have laid siege to the house, as both the exit and entrance of the house was under lock and key.
    The move to seal the house, according to sources, was to possibly avert the impeachment of the speaker, as members has been forced to proceed on one month recess.
    It would be recalled that Abdullahi Ata succeeded Alhaji Kabiru Alhasssan Rurum, who resigned from office around June last year following an allegation of corruption against him.

     

    Read Also: Police seal off Kano Assembly over impeachment plot

    “The Kano State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the Speaker, have adjourned its plenary session from today Monday May 14, 2018 till the end of June 2018.

    “The Adjournment is to allow members prepare for the month of Ramadan and Idil-Fitr.

    “The Speaker enjoined the members and the general public to make good use of the holy month in praying for forgiveness and progress of Kano State and Nigeria at large, “said the statement signed by its Director of Press, Ali Bala Kofar Kudu.

     

  • Kano assembly plans to include ex-lawmakers in Pension Act amendment

    Kano state House of Assembly is set to include former principal officer of the house in the ongoing amendment of former Governors and their deputies’ pension act.

    The State House of Assembly had commenced a process to amend the state law that provided pension and gratuity for former governors and deputy governors. 

    The decision to commence the amendment of the law followed a motion of urgent public importance raised before the legislature by a member, Alhaji Labaran Madari ( APC ), representing Warawa Constituency.

    The Speaker of the House of Assembly Abdullahi Yusuf Atta said on monday that the amendment became relevant considering the fact that most of the governors and deputy governors are gainfully engaged after their service to the state as some of them are presently Federal lawmakers, Ministers and even governors.

    He added that the inclusion of lawmakers as beneficiaries of the pension scheme is vital considering their contribution and most of them after their service are not engaged in any employment.

    “Honestly you would be so surprise when you see some of our colleagues that have served as lawmakers in a bad living conditions. So when they are included even if it is N20,000 or N30,000 it will go a long way to support them,” Atta said.

    “You can imagine I was lawmaker in 1999, 2011 and presently the Speaker of the House, in this situation i will not be entitled to benefit until l am out of the house.”

    He noted that the committee saddled with the responsibility is yet to submit the report adding that it will be extensively discussed to ensure that everybody is carried along. 

    However, The Nation observed that this is contrary to the prayer of the motion moved by Alhaji Labaran Madari (APC), representing Warawa Constituency on 19th March at plenary.

    According to Madari, the amendment of the law is to reduce unnecessary spending of public funds through payments to former governors and deputy governors who are also holding political offices after their tenures.

    lt could be recalled that the assembly set up an ad-hoc committee under the leadership of the House Majority Whip, Alhaji Kabiru Hassan-Dashi, and was given two weeks to submit its report.

  • Kano approves amendment of 1999 constitution

    Kano approves amendment of 1999 constitution

    Kano State House of Assembly has approved the amendment of some laws in the 1999 Constitution which include financial autonomy to States’ Houses Assembly among others.

    The approval followed series of deliberations by the lawmakers following the adoption of the National Assembly bill on the amendment.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi Ata said at the plenary on Tuesday in Kano that the house had approved eight out of the 15 alterations as requested by the National Assembly.

    Ata said the alterations included financial autonomy for States’ House of Assembly, the removal of force from the Nigerian Police Force ( NPF ) and the provision of an independent candidate during the general elections in the country.

    According to the speaker, the house will deliberate on the remaining seven areas as requested by the National Assembly which included the autonomy for Local Government among others.

    Read also: Kano spends N9b monthly on salary payment, says Gov

    NAN

  • INEC receives petition for recall of Kuki

    INEC receives petition for recall of Kuki

    …writes Kuki, to release timetable for recall shortly

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will soon reel out the timetable for the recall of Honorable Abubakar Galadima Kuki, a member representing Bebeji Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly.

    The commission in a statement signed by Prince Adedeji S. Soyebi Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) said it received a petition for his recall at the weekend from his constituents.

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday the 11th of August, 2017 received a petition for the recall of Honourable Abubakar Galadima Kuki, a Member representing Bebeji Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, from his constituents.

    “In accordance with the INEC Guidelines for Recall, the Commission has formally acknowledged the receipt of the petition to the Petitioners’ representatives and has written to inform Honourable Kuki of the presentation of the petition.

    “A timetable and schedule of activities pursuant to the petition will be issued shortly.”

    Kuki is the second to be facing recall in this dispensation.

    Senator Dino Melaye, the senator representing the people of Kogi West Senatorial District was the first to face the recall process.

    Though the process for Mr. Melaye’s recall has been put on hold by the ruling of the High Court, which has been challenged by the electoral body.

     

  • Collapse Bridge: Kano Assembly seeks urgent repairs to avert disaster

    Collapse Bridge: Kano Assembly seeks urgent repairs to avert disaster

    Kano State House of Assembly on Monday urged the State Government to hasten the repair of the collapsed bridge linking Gezawa and Minjibir Local Government Areas, to avert further disaster.

    The assembly made the appeal after adopting a motion of urgent public importance tabled by Isiyaku Ali-Danja, member Gezawa constituency.

    He said that part of the bridge had collapsed and already a bus conveying some students from Yobe had plunged into it.

    Ali-Danja stressed that recent heavy rains being recorded in the area had further eroded the bridge and communities close to it, forcing seven households to abandon their homes.

    “Part of the bridge has collapsed over a month back due to heavy rain fall in the area and the situation is causing a lot of hardship to motorists using the road, especially farmers and businessmen.

    “Also for the past two days there has been heavy rainfall in the area which caused a bus conveying students from Yobe State to miss its way and plunge under the bridge.

    “Although no life was lost but some students in the vehicle were injured.

    “The road is a major route for business people and farmers from within and outside the state conveying their goods to various markets within and outside Kano state,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Abdullahi Ata, unanimously called on the state government and state emergency management agency to intervene in order to save lives.

     

  • Kano Assembly Speaker resigns, Atta takes over

    Kano Assembly Speaker resigns, Atta takes over

    The Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, has resigned amidst allegation of collecting money to scuttle investigation on the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.

    Rurum resigned in a letter read at plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Ibrahim Chidariof who presided over the sitting on Monday.

    The former speaker was alleged to have collected N100 million from business mogul Aliko Dangote but failed to share the money to the members.

    He had earlier at a news briefing before the assembly went on Sallah recess, denied the allegation and threatened to sue an online media group that first published the report.

    The deputy speaker, who read the letter, said Rurum resigned to protect his image due to allegations bordering on corruption leveled against him by some of the members.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly after the letter was read and accepted, the lawmakers elected the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Atta as the new Speaker.

    Atta, who represents Fagge constituency, was nominated for the position by Babangida Yakudima and Zubairu Mamuda and the nomination was unanimously accepted by the members including Rurum who was at the sitting.