Following the impeachment of Mr. Simon Achuba, Tribune reports that Chief Edward Onoja, is set to be sworn-in on Monday, as the new deputy governor of Kogi State.

Onoja is the running mate to Governor Yahaya Bello in the November 16 governorship election and until recently he was the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Governor.

In the midst of this tension, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kogi Branch has not said anything. The branches of the NBA in Kogi State are part of the NBA and are empowered to handle local issues. It is times like these that the branches in Kogi State should stand by the people of Kogi State.

NJC too has to step in to stop the Executive recklessness and the attempt to drag the judiciary into the mess.

TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL) recalls that Achuba was impeached by the State House of Assembly within hours of the submission of the report of the panel raised by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasiru Ajana to investigate the allegations against him. The panel headed by a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. John Baiyesha, had cleared Achuba of all the allegations against him.

The panel said allegations of misappropriation of funds and non-compliance with extant financial regulations by the Deputy Governor were not proved.

Section 188 (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, provides in respect of removal of a Governor or Deputy Governor as follows:

”Where the Panel Reports to the House of Assembly that the allegations has not been proved, NO further proceeding shall be taken in respect of the matter”

In view of the clear provisions of the constitution above, the purported removal of Mr. Achuba as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State by the House of Assembly of that state is a height of illegality and such poses danger to rule of law in the state.

TheNigerialawyer Editorial

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