ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to explore the roles of Legislature in impeachment proceeding under the 1999 constitution. The principal function of the Legislative arm of government is to legislate and make law for good governance in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. The Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives while the Legislative power of a state
is vested in the State House of Assembly. The Legislature has the power under the 1999 Constitution to impeach the Electoral Officers of both the executive and legislative arms of Government, such as the President and Vice President, Governor or Deputy Governor, Senate President,
Speaker of House of Representatives and other elective Officers of the National and State Houses of Assembly. The research considers the Constitutional provision which spell out the roles of the Legislative arm in impeachment of the President and Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governor, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives, and the State House of Assembly.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE..............................................................................................................i
CERTIFICATION PAGE..........................................................................................ii
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................iii
DEDICATION............................................................................................................iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...........................................................................................v
TABLE OF CASES....................................................................................................vi
TABLE OF STATUTES...........................................................................................vii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................................viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................................ix
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0.0: INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................1
1.1.0: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY.................................................................3
1.2.0: OBJECTIVES OF STUDY...............................................................................3
1.3.0: FOCUS OF STUDY...................................................................................... ....4
1.4.0: SCOPE OF STUDY...........................................................................................4
1.5.0: METHODOLOGY............................................................................................5
1.6.0: LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................6
1.7.0: DEFINITION OF TERMS...............................................................................8
1.8.0: CONCLUSION..................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 2
BACKGROUND OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS IN
NIGERIA
2.0.0: INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................10
2.1.0: DEFINITION OF IMPEACHMENT............................................................11
2.2.0HISTORICALBACKGROUNDOFIMPEACHMENT..................................13
2.3.0: IMPEACHMENT UNDER PRE-1999 ONSTITUTION.............................16
2.3.1: THE 1963 CONSTITUTION..........................................................................17
2.3.2: THE IMPEACHMMENT UNDER 1979 CONSTITUTION: AN
OVERVIEW OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF ALHAJI BALARABE
MUSA..........................................................................................................................19
2.3.3: IMPEACHMENT UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITUTION..........................22
2.4.0: CONCLUSION................................................................................................23
CHAPTER 3
LEGISLATURE AND IMPEACHMENT
3.0.0: INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................25
3.1.0: COMPOSTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.................................25
3.2.0: LEGISLATIVE POWERS IN THE 1999 CONSTITUTION....................28
3.3.0: ROLES OF THE LEGISLATIVE IN A DEMOCRACTIC SOCIETY.....31
3.4.0: IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS IN THE LEGISLATIVE
HOUSES.....................................................................................................................43
3.4.1 IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING FOR THE REMOVALOF THE
PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT..................................................................47
3.4.2: IMPEACHMENT OF THE GOVERNORS AND DEPUTY
GOVERNORS............................................................................................................51
3.5.0: CONCLUSION................................................................................................52
CHAPTER 4
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF IMPEACHMENT IN NIGERIA
4.0.0: INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................53
4.1.0: IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITTION....................................53
4.1.1: THE AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF GOVERNOR
DSP ALAMIEYESIGHA.........................................................................................59
4.1.2 AN OVERVIEW OF THEIMPEACHMENTOF GOVERNOR
LADOJA.....................................................................................................................62
4.2.0.IMPEACHMENT OF DEPUTYGOVERNOR..............................................64
4.2.1AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF ABIODUN ALUKO......64
4.2.2 AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF SEN. BUCKNOR AKERELE............................66
4.3.0AN APPRAAISAL OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF OBONG CHRIS EKPENYOUG
4.5.0: CONCLUSION................................................................................................70
CHAPTER 5
GENERAL CONCLUSION
5.0.0: CONCLUSION................................................................................................71
5.1.0: RECOMMENDATION..................................................................................75