Impeachment: Panel indicts Nyako, absolves deputy

By John Alechenu

(NIGERIA) There are strong indications that the seven-man panel set up to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Mr. Bala Ngilari, has indicted the governor but absolved the deputy.

It was learnt in Abuja on Sunday, that the panel set up by the immediate past acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, to investigate allegations levelled against the duo arrived at the decision after reviewing exhibits tendered by members of the State House of Assembly who are the complainants.

The governor and his deputy neither attended the three hearings nor did they send a representative.

Perhaps in an attempt to preempt the outcome of the committee’s report, the governor had approached the court to file an appeal.

A source privy to this confided in our correspondent that “His Excellency knew from the word go that the committee working in tandem with the House, have a predetermined outcome which is to indict the governor to pave the way for his impeachment.

“He has gone to court to challenge the constitution of the panel itself. If you recall, the outgone Acting Chief Judge gave a ruling on a Wednesday stopping the House from going ahead with their plot.

“On Thursday of the same week, the House met and passed a resolution, by Friday, the same judge constituted the panel, this is definitely more than meets the eye.

“We are petitioning the National Judicial Council over the conduct of the judge while we pursue the matter against the panel and the House in court, we cannot allow this impunity to continue.”

It was not clear whether the scheduled meeting between Nyako and some of the legislators held but an informed source said the governor was being cautiously optimistic that a meeting could save the day.

Repeated calls to the mobile telephone number of the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Ahmad Sajoh, indicated that the phone was switched off.

It may be recalled that the former Acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, constituted the seven member panel on July 8, 2014 to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari.