The Zamfara State House of Assembly in Gusau has suspended two lawmakers. The two lawmakers, Yusuf Muhammad Anka and Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, were suspended for allegedly conniving with kidnappers to kill the father of the Speaker of the House, Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, after the deceased was abducted.
Anka, representing Anka Constituency of the state and Bakura who represented Bakura Constituency were also alledged to have aided bandits to kill Muhammad G. Ahmed who represented Shinkafi Constituency. Both Anka and Bakura were suspended for three months.
The allegations against the suspended lawmakers were brought by Yusuf Alhassan Kanoma who represents Maru North Constituency and seconded by Nura Dahiru Sabon Birnin Dan Ali who represents Birnin Magaji Constituency. Both lawmakers said Anka and Bakura rejoiced at the news of the Speaker’s father’s death, and also coordinated with bandits to kill Ahmed.
“One of them is suspected to have supplied information to bandits leading to the death of one of our lawmakers, Muhammad Ahmad, representing Shinkafi Constituency, who was killed on his way to Kano few months ago,” Kanoma stated. “The other was seen rejoicing after the kidnapp of our Speaker’s father, who died in bandits’ captivity.”
Nura Ali said his failed negotiations with the killers of Magarya must not the allowed to go in vain if the accused lawmakers were complicit in the allegation. Majority Leader Faruku Dosara said the allegations were serious and must not be treated with kids’ gloves. He said the accused must be investigated thoroughly and then handed over to law enforcement.
Speaker Magarya suspended the two accused lawmakers for three months and stripped them of their House chairmanships. Kanoma was asked to oversee the Works and Transport Committee chaired by Anka while Nasiru Atiku Gora took over the Humanitarian and Social Development Committee portfolio of Bakura.
The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges chairman, Kabiru Hashimu Dansadau, was tasked to investigate the allegations and report back to the House in three months.
