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The Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, has told the state House of Assembly that he will not honour its summon because he has taken the lawmakers to court.
The Assembly had recently gave Aliyu a 48-hour ultimatum to appear before it, to defend himself against an allegation of misconduct leveled against him.
The lawmakers accused Aliyu of lack of empathy for the residents of the state for holding a political rally on July 10, after killings by bandits in Maradun Local Government Area.
They summoned him to explain his action, a development widely interpreted as a step towards impeaching the deputy governor.
But Aliyu, in a letter dated July 29,sent to the Assembly, said he will not appear before the lawmakers until his case in court is decided.
“The pending court action touches among others on any process, in any form or manner relating to instant invitation extended to me.
“In this pending case, the Office of the Speaker of this honourable house is a party. Further there is an order for maintenance of status quo made by the court on 19th July.
“While I am willing to and ready to honour the invitation, sadly, I am constrained by pending suit, and it’s attendant order,” the deputy governor stated in the letter.
After acknowledging receipt of the letter on Thursday, the House directed its legal department to analyse it and the court papers.
During deliberations at plenary, Yusuf Kanoma, representing Maru North constituency, faulted the letter and the court order, saying at no time did the House discuss impeaching the deputy governor.
Aliyu, also on Thursday issued a statement calling on the lawamakers to halt the alleged impeachment plan.
In June, the deputy governor declined to join his boss, Governor Bello Matawalle, in defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after months of speculation and denial.
Aliyu, who is the son of a former Minister of Defence, Ali Gusau, opposed to joining the APC, arguing that the court awarded the electoral victory in 2019 to the PDP and not just its candidates.