The move to impeach Adamawa State
Governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, took a dramatic turn on Sunday as the
governor declared Monday and Tuesday as work-free days in the state.
The governor’s opponents in the state House of Assembly said Nyako’s action was an attempt to frustrate his impeachment.
The governor was said to have played a
fast one on his opponents following indications that the Acting Chief
Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, might inaugurate on Monday
(today) the seven-member panel he set up on Friday to investigate the
allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the governor and his
deputy, James Ngilari.
The lawmakers accused Nyako of mischief, vowing that the governor and his deputy could not stop the state acting chief judge.
A statement on Sunday by Nyako’s Chief
of Staff, A. Abba, stated, “His Excellency, Governor Murtala Nyako, has
approved Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 8 as work-free days in Adamawa
State.
“This is to enable the people of the
state to reflect on the current happenings in the country and to use the
period to offer special prayers for peace in the state and the country.
“The period is to also allow Adamawa
workers reflect on their current challenges. It is also a thanksgiving
period for the citizens to appreciate God’s protection despite all
challenges.”
But the Deputy Majority Leader of the
House, Mr. Adamu Kamale, told one of our correspondents on the phone
that the governor was merely ‘mischievous’ by declaring the public
holidays.
Kamale said, “The issue now is not
before the House. There may be mischief to this in whichever way you
look at it. But, already, the (acting) Chief Judge has set up the
seven-man panel to investigate the governor and his deputy and there is
no way they can block the CJ.
“In addition, praying to God is supposed
to be a daily affair as most of our religions are practising it. For
two days to be set aside as praying days, well I don’t know his
intention. I will have to read the statement, probably I can pick
something from it.”
The governor however alleged that the acting chief judge had set up the seven-man committee under duress.
Speaking through his Director of Press
and Media, Ahmad Sajoh, in a telephone interview with one of our
correspondents from Yola, the governor said that the promoters of the
impeachment move were not law-abiding.
“The Acting Chief Judge constituted the
panel under duress. If not, how can the same judge who gave a ruling
that there was no substituted service, the same judge that gave an order
that the process be stopped; be the same judge that set up this panel
when he is yet to vacate his earlier order? You know that is not
possible,” Sajoh said.
According to him, the governor is
heading a law-abiding government who still holds the judiciary in high
esteem and he is prepared to submit himself to the judicial process.
Sajoh, however, expressed concern that
it had become obvious that promoters of the impeachment plot were
determined not to obey the courts because by their actions, they have so
far demonstrated a disdain for the judiciary.
But Kamale said there was nothing unusual about the development.
He explained that the House was carrying out its functions in line with laid down constitutional procedures in such matters.
Kamale told The SOURCE that members of the House were determined to follow through with the process.
“We have been following what the
constitution says. Since we began this process, we have never had any
talks with any individual or group; we have been following the process
as prescribed by the constitution. We are on course,” he said.
Meanwhile, the governor and the Ahmadu
Fintiri-led State House of Assembly are set to return to court over the
propriety or otherwise of the moves by the legislators to impeach Nyako
and Ngilari.
The SOURCE learnt in Abuja, on
Sunday, that a Lagos-based lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), had been
approached by Nyako and his supporters to handle the governor’s case.
The House leadership, which is said to
enjoy the support of powerful political interests in Abuja, is also
shopping for a prominent lawyer to counter Falana.
Our correspondents also learnt that the
top hierarchy of the opposition All Progressives Congress had also
intervened in the matter.
It is still unclear what exactly the APC
leaders are doing but it was learnt that they were determined to ensure
that Nyako did not go down without a fight.
The National Publicity Secretary of the
APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who confirmed the intervention of party
leaders, said what the party was doing was not meant for the pages of
newspapers.
However, The SOURCE learnt on
Sunday that the soldiers deployed in the residence of the Acting Chief
Judge were still keeping vigil over the property.
A source who pleaded anonymity for fear
of retribution said, “The issue we are dealing with has gone beyond
local politics. You know the Chief of Defence Staff, who is from this
state, and the National Security Adviser has become involved.”
It was also learnt that leading members
of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party from the state, including a
former national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; former
Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak; and Senator Jibril
Aminu met in Abuja on Saturday night to devise a counter strategy to
whatever the APC had been preparing to save the governor.
The members of the panel to probe the
governor, as announced by the acting CJ, are Buba Kaimaga (Chairman),
Laraba Hassan, Njidda Kito, Joshua Abu, Binanu Esthon, Sa’ad Lawan,
Mayo-Belwa, and Esthon Gapsiso.
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