From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Tuesday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Awaisu Aliyu (ADC – Gada West) over what it described as false and scandalous statements against the house.
According to the house, the lawmaker risks a three-month suspension if he fails to retract the statements.
The decision followed the consideration of a report by the House Committee on Services, Ethics and Privileges over an interview granted by the lawmaker, which went viral on social media.
Presenting the report at plenary, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim, said the interview was posted by a television on Sept. 23.
Ibrahim said the interview contained statements which the committee considered false and scandalous against the leadership of the assembly, capable of defaming the image and good name of the house.
He said the committee invited Aliyu to explain his action and accorded him a fair hearing.
“The member admitted to having granted the interview and made representations at the hearing which were not cogent and devoid of tangible evidence to support his claims.
“Also, the interview granted was a gross misrepresentation of facts, false and scandalous, and defamed the image of the house in the public eye,” he claimed.
Ibrahim said the lawmaker’s claims concerning the construction of the Tashar Illela-Road Block road were false, explaining that the project was inherited from the previous administration and had already been captured in the budget for completion.
He said Aliyu’s action constituted an offence contrary to Section 17 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.
The deputy speaker, however, said: “Section 14 of the Act provides that a member who fails to abide by the laid-down procedures of the house can be reprimanded or suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding one legislative session without pay.”
He added that Aliyu apologised to the committee and the assembly over his action.
Ibrahim said the committee recommended that the lawmaker should liaise with Iconic Television to bring down the interview, in addition to a press conference with media organisations in the state to retract his statements.
“However, failure to hold the press conference within 24 hours, the member stands suspended from the legislative service of the house for a period of three months,” he said.
The Speaker, Alhaji Tukur Bala, thereafter put the committee’s recommendation to a voice vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.
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