Jigawa House of Reps member dies at 65

Honorable Yuguda Hassan Kila, a member of the House of Representatives from Gwaram Constituency of Jigawa State is dead.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the 65-year-old federal lawmaker died at the National Hospital from an undisclosed illness, was the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise.

The news of the lawmaker’s death was broken to reporters at the National Assembly yesterday by an official who pleaded for anonymity.

The official said in a message: “May Allah grant Rep. Yusuf Kila Aljanah (Chairman, House Committee Customs and Excise), House of Representatives. Age: 70yrs. Party: All Progressive Congress (APC). State: Jigawa. We just lost him.”

His deputy in the committee Leke Abejide had informed members of the committee and officials of the Nigeria Customs Service earlier in the day that the Chairman was indisposed, while asking for prayers for his quick recovery.

Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) who appeared before the committee to defend the 2021 Budget estimate of the Service offered a prayer for Kila’s quick recovery.

However, the news of his death later filtered into the venue about three hours later, forcing the committee to adjourn abruptly.

House Leade, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa who later spoke to journalists, said: “The man was admitted last two weeks for just severe malaria. It later degenerated into acute shortage of oxygen in his blood stream. He tested negative to COVID-19 about three times and till he gave up (the ghost) this afternoon, he was confirmed not COVID-19 infected.

“The Speaker and I are still at the National Hospital. We have secured release of his remains and completed arrangements for an Air Force aircraft to convey his body to Kano for Islamic funeral.”