KANO — The Kano State House of Assembly has formally served an impeachment notice to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, over allegations of gross misconduct and the suspected diversion of ₦1.1 billion in public funds.
The move, which has thrown the state’s political landscape into further turmoil, followed a petition tabled during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Jibril Ismail Falgore.
The ₦1.1 Billion Allegations
The petition, submitted by a resident of the state, accused the Deputy Governor of abusing his office during his tenure as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
According to the charges read on the floor of the House, Gwarzo is alleged to have presided over the unauthorized withdrawal of ₦1.1 billion from the state’s Local Government Joint Account. The funds were reportedly diverted under the guise of “special interventions” across the 44 local government areas, though investigators claim no such projects were executed.
Assembly Gives Two-Week Ultimatum
Following the adoption of the petition, the House directed its clerk to serve the Deputy Governor with the notice of impeachment. Under constitutional provisions, Gwarzo has been given a 14-day window to respond to the specific allegations of financial impropriety and breach of trust.
“The House is acting within its constitutional mandate to ensure accountability,” a high-ranking member of the Assembly stated shortly after the session. “This is not about politics; it is about the documented movement of billions of naira that cannot be accounted for.”
Political Fallout
The impeachment proceedings come at a time of deep friction within the state’s executive branch. While the Assembly maintains the move is strictly an oversight function, supporters of the Deputy Governor have raised concerns that the probe is tied to recent shifts in party loyalty and internal power struggles within the state’s ruling machinery.
Gwarzo, a veteran politician and key figure in the “Kwankwasiyya” movement, has yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the charges. However, sources close to his office suggest he is currently consulting with his legal team to prepare a comprehensive response to the Assembly’s queries.
What Happens Next?
If the Deputy Governor fails to provide a satisfactory explanation within the two-week period, the House is expected to request the State Chief Judge to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations. Should the panel find him guilty, a two-thirds majority vote in the House would result in his immediate removal from office.
Security has been tightened around the House of Assembly complex in Kano as residents and political stakeholders await the next phase of the high-stakes confrontation.
