In a move described by the Gombe state government as a commitment to due process and accountability in public service,governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has constituted a high-powered investigative panel to examine allegations of misconduct against the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Jungudo.
The decision, announced by the Head of Civil Service, Professor Mu’azu Shehu, also includes the immediate suspension of the Acting DPP pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to Professor Shehu, the governor approved the action after carefully considering the nature and gravity of the allegations contained in a formal complaint. He said the suspension was necessary to allow for a fair, transparent and unhindered investigation in line with established principles of due process.
The development marks one of the most significant administrative actions within the state’s justice sector in recent times, reflecting the government’s stated resolve to uphold accountability while ensuring that public officers are accorded fair hearing during disciplinary processes.
To ensure credibility and impartiality, the investigative panel will be chaired by Hon. Justice Haruna Habila Kereng of the Gombe State High Court.
The committee comprises a Director from the Ministry of Justice, a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), a representative of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Gombe, and a representative of the Department of State Services (DSS). The Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Service Matters, Office of the Head of Civil Service, will serve as Secretary to the panel.
The composition of the panel brings together judicial, legal, security and administrative institutions, a structure intended to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, objective and transparent.
The panel has been directed to commence work immediately. Its assignment includes examining all allegations, reviewing relevant facts and evidence, and submitting its findings and recommendations to Governor Inuwa Yahaya through the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
Although the government has not publicly disclosed the specific allegations against the Acting DPP, officials insist that the investigative process will be guided by fairness and respect for the rule of law.
The state government maintains that the suspension should not be interpreted as a determination of guilt but rather as an administrative measure designed to preserve the integrity of the investigative process and prevent any interference with the panel’s work.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to determine the next course of action, with the panel’s recommendations likely to shape any administrative or legal measures that may follow.
For observers, the development underscores the delicate balance between enforcing accountability within public institutions and safeguarding the rights of public officials through established disciplinary procedures. As the panel begins its work, attention will be focused on the transparency of the process and the government’s handling of its eventual findings.