The Kano State House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against the state’s deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzo, over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, breach of public trust and financial malfeasance.
The move followed the presentation of a notice of impeachment during plenary on Thursday.
The Majority Leader of the assembly, Lawan Dala, read the notice before lawmakers, detailing several accusations against the deputy governor.
Dala alleged that Gwarzo diverted funds meant for local government administrations while serving as commissioner for local government in the state.
According to him, between June 2023 and January 2024, the deputy governor allegedly collected kickbacks of N1.5 million every month from each of the 44 local government areas in the state.
The payments, he said, amounted to N66 million monthly and totalled N462 million over a seven-month period for personal or improper benefit.
The majority leader further alleged that from February to July 2024, Gwarzo received additional cash returns under the pretext of executing special assignments.
He said the payments amounted to N3.255 million from each of the 44 local government areas monthly, bringing the total to about N726 million during the six-month period.
Dala also accused the deputy governor of abusing his office to facilitate the release of funds that conferred undue advantage on a pharmaceutical company.
According to him, the arrangement involved payments of N10 million from each of the 44 local government councils to the company.
The majority leader added that the impeachment notice was endorsed by 38 members of the assembly and urged the Speaker, Jibril Falgore, to forward the notice to the deputy governor in accordance with constitutional procedures.
Political observers have linked the development to the ongoing political realignments in the state.
Gwarzo is widely regarded as a loyalist of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
He is also said to have declined to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and several government officials.
However, the assembly had previously denied reports suggesting that Gwarzo’s impeachment was being considered over political disagreements.
Last month, the assembly’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Shawai, dismissed the claims, insisting there was no plot to remove the deputy governor for refusing to defect to another political party.
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