Zamfara State lawmaker and governor's chief driver fight over woman

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has mandated its Ethics and Privileges Committee to investigate a fight that ensued between its majority leader, Alhaji Salisu Musa, and the governor’s chief driver, Idris Garba, over a woman who operates a restaurant in Gusau.

Hon. Salisu Musa Tsafe had on Monday engaged the senior driver in a physical combat over the woman identified as Madam Saratu Kaura-Namoda. Reportedly, one of his fingers was almost bitten off by the driver. According to claims, Idris had paid the woman's brideprice.

Narrating the incident to newsmen,, Tsafe denied having an affair with the lady and said rather, they have a long time business engagement and official friendship. He said:

“I called her on Sunday from Kaduna to inform her that I was coming to Gusau the next day and she pleaded that we should meet specially to discuss about the money she owed me.” 

Tsafe disclosed that it was during his visit to her shop at Tudun Wada Gusau, the state capital that he found his customer in company of the governor’s driver sitting in his tinted glass car after which he drove away to allow his turn for usual business.

 “A few minutes after Mallam Idris left, he turned back to park by my car and wound down his glasses to accuse me of visiting his girlfriend. I replied him that she is not my girlfriend and has no any relationship that is not legitimate, we only interact as business partners,” he stressed.

The Majority Leader said the driver continued with the insult but he could not engage in physical combat in the public as requested by Mallam Idris.

“The governor’s driver later requested that we should go to a bush to slug it out which I angrily agreed and drove after him. He parked as he reached the Low Cost Housing Estate which is a few meters away from the controversial girl’s shop. I did the same to confront him during which he stretched his fist at me, so I had to fight for self-defence. He bit my finger until I gave him formidable blows on his forehead,” Tsafe narrated.

He said the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Criminal Investigation Department, CID, at the state headquarters had intervened into the matter and warned the governor’s driver that since he did not pay any bride price for his controversial girlfriend then, he had no right to stop her from mingling with anybody.

When contacted by NigeriaPilot, the governor’s driver said that the lawmaker should be the one to speak on the matter.

The State's Speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, has now directed the committee to invite all parties involved, including the woman, security agents, eyewitnesses and other relevant bodies, warning that any invitee who failed to appear before the committee, headed by the Chief Whip, Alhaji Abdulmumini Isa, would be seen and treated as a law breaker. The committee is expected to submit its report on June 27.

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