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The Bayelsa state House of Assembly yesterday impeached the state governor Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, on two-count charge of jumping bail and failing to notify the house of his arrest, detention and arraignment in a London court for the offence of money laundering.
The Bayelsa state House of Assembly yesterday impeached the state governor Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, on two-count charge of jumping bail and failing to notify the house of his arrest, detention and arraignment in a London court for the offence of money laundering.
The House which late last month served an impeachment notice on the governor with a ten-point allegation of gross misconduct, took the decision after the seven member panel set up by the state chief Judge Justice Emanuel Igniwari, submitted its report to it.
Amid heavy security, the House which had 15 of its members present at the sitting, presided over by the Speaker, Peremowei Ebebi, unanimously adopted the report of the panel which eventually saw to the impeachment of the governor by the 2/3 majority of the members present.
Citing lack of funds due to the freezing of the state account, the chairman, Serena Dokubo-Spiff while presenting the report on the floor of the Assembly, explained that the panel had to restrict its work to the first part of its term of reference which entails allegations for which proofs were considered unnecessary.
He said Alamieyesigha, while standing trial in London,
smuggled himself out of London and illegally returned
to Yenagoa on the 21st day of November, 2005, contrary
to the conditions of bail granted him by the court
which had restricted him to London. By this action,
according to the panel, the governor had brought the
exalted office of the Governor of Bayelsa State to
disrepute, odium and ridicule."
The report stated that despite the clear and
unequivocal words of the above allegation, the
governor had failed to reply to the allegations
contained in the Notice of Impeachment served him,
hence making the allegation incontrovertible.
Consequences of the failure of the governor to abide
by the conditions of the bail, the panel said, are:
Scotland Yard could issue a warrant of arrest
against Chief Alamieyeseigha and further embarrass the
people of Bayelsa State.
Chief Alamieyeseigha has become a fugitive liable to
be arrested whenever he returns to the United
Kingdom, or anywhere else in the civilized world.
By this ignominious conduct, Bayelsans and indeed all
Nigerians have been scandalized, embarrassed and
depicted as people whose word cannot be relied upon.
Chief Alamieyesigha has jeopardized the safety and
besmirched the reputation of Nigerians living in or
visiting the United Kingdom.
Chief Alamieyeseigha has jeopardized the safety and free movement of the present-day Governor of Bayelsa State or his successor in office.
Chief Alamieyeseigha has severely hindered the
capacity of the Governor of Bayelsa State to transact
international business whether now or in the future,
as he can no longer travel overseas.
Chief Almieyeseigha has dealt a severe blow to the Ijaw Nation of which Bayelsa is part, who traditionally take great pride in the meaning of their name - Ijaw - truth, which name has now been bastardized owing to the profligacy of Chief Almieyesigha.
Citing that three prominent and distinguished persons
had served as the governor's sureties when he was
granted bail, the panel said by jumping bail, the
governor debased and held himself out to be a man
without integrity, without morals and no sense of
decency.
"This indeed constitutes a misconduct which renders
him unfit to govern a state. His conduct is inflating,
and most unbecoming of a person adorning the exalted
title of "His Excellency". By virtue of the aforesaid,
this investigative panel is of the considered opinion
an hereby gives the verdict that the above act of the governor is tantamount to "gross misconduct" and
therefore renders him liable to the provisions of
Section 188 of The Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
The second offence for which the governor was
impeached was his failure to formally notify the
Government of Bayelsa State, particularly, State House
of Assembly of his arrest, detention, and arraignment
and trial in court in London for the offence of money
laundering. The panel noted that instead he had
deceptively written a letter backdated to 1st
September, 2005 requesting to be away for 120 days to
enable him recuperate from a surgery he underwent in
Germany.
(1) That His Excellency, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha failed, refused and or neglected to notify the Bayelsa State House of Assembly of his arrest, detention, and arraignment and trial in court in London for the offence of money laundering in contravention of Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution.
(2) That His Excellency, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha wilfully and deliberately engaged in suppression of material facts when he failed, refused and or neglected to notify the Bayelsa State House of Assembly of his arrest, detention, and arraignment and trial in court in London for the offence of money laundering.
(iii) That His Excellency, Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha
sought to deceive the Bayelsa State of House of
Assembly and the entire people of bayelsa, by virtue
of the spurious letter addressed to the Speaker,
Bayelsa State House of Assembly ostensibly dated 1st
September, 2005, but in actual fact made in reaction
to an event which occurred on 15th day of September,
2005 namely his arrest and detention with the prospect
of long stay in the United Kingdom.
(iv) That the deceit referred to in (iii) above, is
borne out by the fact that close associates cum
advisers of the Governor were caused to issue a
statement immediately after news of his arrest and
detention to effect that the governor was having
"extended bed rest" in London, following surgery in
Germany.
(v) That following from the forgoing is the fact that
His Excellency, Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha, must have
written that letter AFTER, NOT BEFORE his arrest, but
wilfully and deliberately dated it to create the
impression that it was written before - a fact which
by itself, is indicative of a fraudulent propensity.
By virtue of (i) to (v) above, this investigative
panel is of the considered opinion that the above
acts of the Governor are incompatible with his
dignified status as "HIS EXCELLENCY" and are tantamount to "gross misconduct". The Investigative Panel, therefore, HEREBY GIVES THE VERDICT that the above act of the Governor renders him liable to the provisions of Section 188 of The Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
The report of the panel was signed by all the seven
members of the panel comprising: Barrister Serena
Dokubo-Spiff, Mr. Benson Agadaga, Lady Mercy Allagoa,
Barrister Collins Boleigha, Wing Commander Gladys
Brisbe (rtd), Mrs. Bolere Ketebu-Nwafor and Col.
Rufus Apulu (rtd).