Niger lawmakers got N17m each to stop gov’s impeachment

Firstclass newsline crew learnt that the lawmakers after getting the
N17m each were also promised by the state government 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 when firstclass newsline sought his reaction to
the development, sources at the assembly complex including lawmakers,
who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development.
The speaker, who spoke to firstclass newsline on the telephone said,
"I cannot speak on this issue on the telephone or anywhere on the
matter."
But one of the lawmakers confirmed this to firstclass newsline crew.
He 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.
This development, the source, who is a worker in the assembly complex
said, had brought calm to the House of Assembly complex as the state
police command had withdrawn security operatives from the building.
This, he added, had given the lawmakers free access into their
offices.
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.
To frustrate the lawmakers, the governor had headed for the court
where he secured an order to restrain the legislators from making any
move to impeach him.
The governor had gone to the court after the peace meeting between
him(Aliyu) and the newly elected principal officers of the House
failed.
The House of Assembly was also occupied by security operatives for so
many days to prevent the members from entering into the assembly
complex to carry out their legislative duties.
Due to this, Kawu had threatened to institute a legal action against
the Niger State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Amore, over what he
described as the illegal occupation of the state House of Assembly by
security operatives.
Firstclassnewsline.net