Two members of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Yusuf Muhammad Anka and Ibrahim T. Tukur Bakura have been suspended for three months over alleged aiding and abetting banditry in the state.
Consequently, the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya has directed the Chairman House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Honorable Kabiru Hashimu Dansadau to investigate the affected members and report back to the house within three months.
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The affected lawmakers, representing Anka and Bakura local governments at the State Assembly, were suspended after allegation of their involvement in banditry was brought to the notice of the house under matters of urgent public importance.
The suspension is contained in a statement issued by Alhaji Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, the Director General, Press Affairs and Public Relations of the Assembly.
“The two lawmakers have been directed to appear before the House Committee on ethics and privileges in conjunction with security agencies for investigation,” the statement said.
Earlier, leading the debate on the matter, Hon. Yusuf Alhassan Kanoma, member representing Maru North, informed the house of the allegation leveled against the two lawmakers which he insisted should not be overlooked by the house.
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He argued that “As a responsible chamber that concerns about the security of its constituents, the house should not fold its arms and allow for such gross official misconduct happening amongst its members. When father of the speaker, late Alhaji Mu’azu Abubakar Magarya was kidnapped, the two affected lawmakers were said to have been celebrated the unfortunate issue.”
The lawmaker, therefore, called on the security agencies to track all GSM lines of the affected lawmakers and listen to all their conversations in the course of investigating the matter.
He then called on house to as a matter of urgency suspend the two lawmakers for three months pending the conclusion of investigations into the matter.
Corroborating with Hon. Kanoma, a member representing Birnin Magaji local government, Hon Nura Dahiru Sabon Birnin Dan Ali said detractors of peace in the state irrespective of their positions, should face the full wrath of the law.
After a heated debate on the matter, the speaker of the House announced the suspension of the two members for the initial period of three (3) months.
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He further directed Hon Alhassan Kanoma to replace Yusuf Muhammad Anka as chairman of the House standing committees on works and transport committee, while Hon. Nasiru Atiku Gora to take over the affairs of the Humanitarian and Social Development Committee of the House from Hon. Ibrahim T. Tukur Bakura.
Efforts to reach the affected lawmakers for comment proved abortive.
