By Daniel Edu
In a decisive move, nine out of ten councillors in Kaura Local Council of Kaduna State have impeached the council Chairman, Mr Mathias Siman, for alleged gross misconduct. The impeachment process, initiated by a motion from councillor Zachariah Achi (Bandon ward) and seconded by Fidelis Kukwui (Zankang ward), accused Siman of misappropriation, negligence, and awarding contracts to his private firm, SMK Nigeria Limited.
The motion revealed that Siman awarded contracts for capital and ecological projects totaling N153 million to his personal company, a violation of the Local Government Administration Law of 2018 and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law 2016. Allegedly, some contracts were paid for with little or no work done, while others were executed below standard or significantly inflated.
Speaker Stephen Atuk declared Siman impeached as of October 31, 2023, emphasizing the legislative body’s commitment to ensuring the proper governance of the local government. Siman had previously been suspended by the State House of Assembly on July 31, facing accusations of gross misconduct related to contract awards.
In response, Siman denied the allegations, stating that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself. Despite his disagreement, he accepted the decision and expressed his willingness to move forward, advocating for patience and understanding among all parties involved.
