Daily Independent (Lagos)
Godwin Egbara
6 July 2009
It was a rowdy session at the Bauchi State House of Assembly when members disagree on the modus operandi of the 7-man panel of investigation set up to look into the impeachable offences against the Deputy Governor, Garba Gadi just as majority of the PDP members agreed that his trial should be in camera.
Arguements started when the Majority Leader of the House, Dayyabu Chiroma, representing Darazo Constituency moved that the Deputy Governor be allowed to give his evidence before the panel in camera to avoid any public embarrassment to him considering the respect that his office commands as the number two citizen of the state.
The motion was seconded by the former Minority Leader, Auwalu Jatau, representing Sakwa Constituency, who added that the motion was in line as the House that has the constitutional obligation to ensure that anyone alleged to have committed an impeachable offence is given a fair hearing saying that the Deputy Governor's office deserves some respect.
Chiroma further explained that as at now, the Deputy Governor is only being accused of impeachable offences so there is the need for him to be heard behind closed doors in order not to be ridiculed with the proceedings.
But an All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) member representing Lere\Bulla Constituency, Aminu Tukur, opposed the motion saying that for there to be fair hearing and transparency in the whole trial, the panel must sit in public and take oral evidences publicly so that everyone that has interest will see and follow the proceedings.
Tukur declared that, there are enough security personnel anywhere the Panel will sit so the issue of siting incamera should be dropped. He also used the medium to call on members of the House to be careful with the way and manner they are going about the whole saga saying that they should all remember that there is a hereafter when everyone will give accounts of all his or her deeds while hereon earth.
The House at the end of the session adopted a nine point procedure to be followed by the Abdul Babayo Malle-led Panel of Investigation into the impeachable offences against the Deputy Governor, at the end of which a report will be submitted tothe House for further debate and adoption.
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