By Editor’s Desk.
The Kano State House of Assembly has formally served an impeachment notice on the state’s Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust. The lawmakers said the notice was issued in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The move comes amid political tension in the state, as the deputy governor reportedly declined to follow Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the Assembly, the first count accuses Abdulsalam of breaching public trust during his tenure as Commissioner for Local Government. Lawmakers alleged that between June 2023 and January 2024, he received a kickback of ₦1.5 million from each of the 44 local government councils in the state. The alleged payments amounted to ₦66 million monthly and a total of ₦462 million over seven months. The Assembly said the action undermines the integrity of public office and violates the principles of transparency and accountability expected from a senior government official.
The second allegation claims that from February to July 2024, the deputy governor allegedly received another series of payments described as “cash returns” under the pretext of carrying out special assignments. Lawmakers said the amount was ₦3.255 million from each of the 44 local governments, totaling about ₦142.2 million monthly and ₦726 million over six months. The Assembly described the alleged transactions as another breach of public trust and misuse of public resources.
In the third count, Abdulsalam is accused of abusing his office while serving as commissioner by facilitating payments totaling ₦440 million to Novomed Pharmaceutical Limited. The lawmakers alleged that each of the 44 local government councils was made to contribute ₦10 million to the company in violation of the state’s public procurement laws.
The Assembly stated that the allegations collectively amount to gross misconduct as defined under Section 188(2) of the Constitution. It added that the alleged diversion of funds and misuse of official authority represent a serious violation of constitutional provisions and ethical standards required of public office holders.
Based on these allegations, the lawmakers resolved to begin impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor in accordance with constitutional provisions governing the removal of a state deputy governor from office.
