The Kano State House of Assembly has begun 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.
Gwarzo is a loyalist of Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state and leader of the Kwankwasiya Movement who had refused to defect from the NNPP to APC along with Governor Abba Yusuf and other government officials.
The process was initiated during plenary on Thursday after lawmakers presented a formal notice of impeachment.
The Majority Leader of the assembly, Lawan Dala, read the notice on the floor of the house, outlining a series of allegations against the deputy governor.
According to Dala, Gwarzo allegedly diverted funds meant for local government administrations while serving as commissioner for local government in the state.
He claimed that between June 2023 and January 2024, the deputy governor received kickbacks of N1.5 million monthly from each of the 44 local government areas in the state.
The alleged payments, he said, amounted to N66 million per month and totalled N462 million over a seven-month period, which he claimed was received for personal or improper benefit.
Dala further alleged that between February and July 2024, Gwarzo collected additional cash returns under the guise of executing special assignments.
He said the payments amounted to N3.255 million from each of the 44 local governments every month, totalling about N726 million during the period.
The majority leader also accused the deputy governor of abusing his office by facilitating the release of public funds to secure undue advantage for a pharmaceutical company.
According to him, the alleged arrangement involved payments of N10 million each from the 44 local government areas to the company.
Dala said the notice of impeachment was signed by 38 lawmakers and urged the Speaker of the assembly, Jibril Falgore, to formally transmit the notice to the deputy governor in line with constitutional provisions.
However, the development comes weeks after the assembly denied reports suggesting that Gwarzo was facing impeachment over an alleged refusal to defect to the APC.
Last month, the assembly’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Shawai, dismissed the claims, insisting there was no plan to remove the deputy governor over political differences.