Zamfara Assembly Suspends Two Lawmakers For Allegedly Aiding Bandits

Two members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have been suspended over their alleged involvement in banditry.

The affected lawmakers are Yusuf Muhammad Anka representing Anka constituency and Ibrahim T. Tukur Bakura representing Bakura constituency.

In a statement issued by the Director-General Press Affairs of the Assembly, Mustapha Ja’afaru, the assembly said that the duo have been suspended for three months pending the conclusion of investigation on the allegations levelled against them.

The statement noted that they are to appear before the House Committee on ethics and privileges in conjunction with security agencies that are assigned by law to investigate them.

“These are part of the resolutions reached at the end of the plenary session presided over the speaker of the House, Rt Hon Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, under matters of urgent public importance,” the statement said.

Leading the debate on the matter shortly after each and every member swore an oath in an Islamic way, a member representing Maru North Hon Yusuf Alhassan Kanoma drew the attention of his colleagues that there is burning issue in the House against the two members who were alleged to be involved in aiding banditry activities saying, ‘as such the House should not fold its arms and allow this gross official misconduct to be swept under the carpet.’

Hon Kanoma further alleged that during the kidnap saga of the father of speaker late Alhaji Mu’azu Abubakar Magarya in particular, Yusuf Muhammad Anka and Ibrahim T Tukur Bakura were said to have been jubilating over the issue.

He also alleged that the lawmakers in the House were the brain behind the killing of late Hon Muhammad G. Ahmad (Walin Jangeru), a former member representing Shinkafi constituency.

According to him, their conversation with the bandits was well recorded, he, therefore, called on the security agencies to fully track all their telephone conversations with the bandits and listen to all their conversations.

Hon Kanoma also called on his colleagues to as a matter of urgency suspend them from all House activities for an initial period of three months pending the conclusion of investigations on the two embattled members.

Also contributing a member representing Birnin Magaji constituency Hon Nura Dahiru Sabon birnin Dan Ali concurred with his colleague and strongly backed Hon Kanoma on the issue, saying that his efforts of mediating and negotiating with notorious bandits Bello Turji on so many occasions to secure the release of late Alhaji Mu’azu Magarya should not go in vain, pointing out that detractors of peace in the state should face the full wrath of the law.

In his ruling on the matter, the speaker of the House Rt Hon Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya graciously approved the request of the Hon House to suspension of the two members for the initial period of three (3) months.

Speaker Magarya also directed the Chairman of House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Hon Kabiru Hashimu Dansadau, to fully investigate these members and report its findings back to the plenary in the next three months.

While expressing his dismay over their alleged involvement in banditry activities, the state chief lawmaker also relieved them of their positions as chairmen of their respective committees.

He assigned Hon Yusuf Alhassan Kanoma to oversee the works and transport committee chaired by Anka and also directed Hon Nasiru Atiku Gora to take charge of the humanitarian and social development committee headed by Bakura.