About 15 of the 24 members of the Nasarawa State
House of Assembly (NSHA), sneaked into Lafia, capital of the state during the
early hours of today, and headed straight to the assembly complex along Shendam
Road where they are currently holding a secret session.
The
members reached Lafia under heavy security of truckloads of armed policemen and
soldiers, Daily Trust learnt.
Daily
Trust learnt the members, who completed the remaining night, holed up in the
office of the speaker after they arrived there by about 5:50am, after the
morning Muslim prayers, are holding an Executive Session in the same office, to
lead to the plenary session soon.
But the
members – all of them of the PDP, did not notify their APC colleagues, namely
(Tanko Adamu Maikatako (PDP, Lafia Central), who is also the House Minority
Leader, as well as Ibrahim Bala (APC, Keffi-West), and Othman Bala Adam (APC,
Keffi-East), Daily Trust learnt further. Sources said the three members got
wind of the secret plan, and forced themselves into the assembly complex before
the sitting commenced, but they were denied access to the ongoing Executive
Session.
It is not
yet clear the agenda of the secret session, but it may not be completely
unconnected with the impeachment proceedings the same members of the secret
meeting initiated last week.
The
House, last week, reconvened from an ongoing recess at an emergency session,
and passed a motion of impeachment, alleging various breaches of the provisions
of the constitution against Al-Makura, including misappropriation of funds from
2011 and 2014, as well as alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office
processes. 20 of the 24 lawmakers, all of them of the PDP, signed the
impeachment notice, containing 16-count charges, which copy is yet to be made
public.
The
lawmakers also passed a motion for the House to do substituted service on the
governor if he could not be reached for service by the clerk who was so
directed after the speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed ruled on the House proceedings
which lasted about 12 minutes.
The
lawmakers have since published the impeachment notice containing the 16-count
charges against Al-Makura, after they made frantic efforts for three days to
serve the notice on the governor. It is not yet clear if Al-Makura has already
responded to the allegations.
The
lawmakers came with an order paper, but it is not clear what is the content.
Sources are giving three versions of their agenda: an impeachment of the
speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed because he is not cooperating on the planned
impeachment of Al-Makura; or a motion to direct the judiciary to set up a panel
to investigate the governor; or to drop the impeachment notice against the
governor after the intervention of traditional rulers in the state.
Meanwhile
armed policemen took over all strategic locations along Shendam Road, and have
stopped vehicular traffic, and any form of movement near the complex.
Pockets
of protests have since rocked the state capital by youths who are raising anger
against the yet to be known motive of lawmakers. The complex of the assembly is
witnessing steady balls of teargas as the policemen stationed there try to wade
off any resistance to the lawmakers.
A
motorist who was turned back from his trip to Shendam in the neighbouring
Plateau State told Daily Trust the complex looks like a battle field.
“They are expending tear gas, you
will think they manufacture it there,” the motorist said.