Impeachment: Niger lawmakers get N17m peace offering

Indications emerged on Tuesday that the members of the Niger State House of Assembly may have put paid to their planned impeachment of the state’s governor, Aliyu Babangida who may have released N17m to each lawmaker as a peace offering.

This was in addition to a promise that their other demands would soon be met. Consequently, the lawmakers have decided to stop the impeachment move against the governor.

Though the Speaker, state House of Assembly, Isah Kawu, refused to comment on the issue sources at the assembly complex including lawmakers, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development.

Punch however reports that one of the lawmakers said, “It was not as if the governor bribed us, it is our legal entitlements and we have a right to ask for it before the expiration of our tenure. We have been paid and calm has returned to the assembly complex.”

Asked whether it was true that the lawmakers had dropped the impeachment plot against the governor, the lawmaker said, “there is no need for it again.”

Another source in the state House of Assembly Complex told our correspondent that each of the lawmakers was paid N17m as part of the allowances they were being owed since February.

It will be recalled that last week, the lawmakers had sacked the leadership of the assembly and elected a new leadership over a series of allegations including non-implementation of house resolutions, poor staff and members’ welfare and non-release of the statutory allocation to the assembly for months. This, it was learnt, was done to pave the way for the removal of the governor.

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