Adamawa impeachment: Nyako, deputy shun panel

The seven-man panel set up by the former Adamawa State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Nyako and his Deputy, Bala Ngillari commenced sitting yesterday at the Conference Hall of the Federal Secretariat, Yola, the state capital.

Nyako and his Deputy, Bala Ngillari however, refused to appear before the panel on the ground that it was illegally constituted.

The Chairman of the panel, Alhaji Buba Kaigama, who spoke at the venue, apologised for the one week delay in the commencement of sitting, following the problem of locating a venue but assured that the panel would be fair and just to all the parties involved.

Kaigama also pledged that the panel would announce its sittings through six media.

While presenting the matter before the panel, Counsel to the complainants (Adamawa State House of Assembly) Chief Duro Adeyede, SAN, submitted 23 exhibits including a video clip against Nyako and six other exhibits against Ngillari, which were all accepted by the panel.

During his cross examination by Adeyede, a witness to the House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. Wafarniyi Theman identified all the exhibits as the true certified copies as presented by the House against the Nyako and Ngilari.

On what he wanted the the panel to do for the House, Theman asked the members to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct brought against the two first and second citizens of the state by the House of Assembly as well as declare whether they were guilty of the charges or not.

In view of the failure of the governor and his Deputy to attend or send representations, the Chairman of the panel said he would forward the hearing notices to both of them.

Christian Community sue for peace
In a related development, Christians in Adamawa State have urged both the governor and his deputy on one side and members of the House on the other to sheath their swords for the peace to reign in the state.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Council of Pastors in the state, Rev. Victor Ordinan, they expressed concern over the impeachment process initiated by the House of Assembly against both the governor and his deputy at the same time.

“We understand and accept though, that impeachment is a constitutional matter as enshrined in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“Our role in the matter is not to attempt to unduly interfare with what is a constitutional matter. However, as the first estate, being spiritual leaders, we feel duty bound to sue for peace and to mediate matters when and or where necessary even between the political class,” Ordinan noted.

Ordinan further pleaded with the House of Assembly to save the state from being plunged into anarchy through the impeachment process embarked upon.

”Our position is strictly issue based. We are concerned about peace and security. That is why as a people, we must unite so that together we can avert the severe consequences of impeaching the number one and two citizens of our state at the same time. We know the consequences and cannot sit back to watch them befall us,” he added.

Sanction awaits traitors – PDP stakeholders warn lawmakers
However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders have threatened to sanction any lawmaker in the state assembly who retraced his step in the impeachment saga against Nyako and Ngilari.

Spokesman of the PDP Elders and Stakeholder’s forum, Dr. Umar Ardo who spoke to reporters yesterday in Yola said that the impeachment was a PDP affair adding that any lawmaker from the party who retraced his steps will be sanctioned.

”The impeachment of Nyako and Ngilari is PDP affair. We have got to a level that none of our 20 lawmakers who earlier signed the impeachment notice will be allowed to withdraw. Any PDP lawmaker that retraces his steps ceases to be member of the party, PDP,” Ardo stated.

When asked to comment on the reconciliatory moves between the lawmakers
and Nyako, Ardo argued that the lawmakers’ decision was inferior to the party’s position as they were products of the party.

IMPEACHMENT PANEL NOT ILLLEGITIMATE
However, an Adviser to Adamawa State Government Mr.P.P. Elisha has said that the seven man panel constituted by the acting chief judge of the state was questionable, adding that the panel was also going beyond its boundary by pasting a service letter to a sitting Governor on the streets in the state capital.
Governor Murtala Nyako

Governor Murtala Nyako

Elisha argued that in the past, all impeachment committee members were sworn in by the Chief Judge of the state involved adding that if the swearing in was not necessary there would not have been any need for public officers to take oaths of office and allegiance as provided in the 1999 Constitution.

“The seven man committee is supposed to be a product of the 1999 Constitution. Since the members are not under any oath, their decisions are not likely to be fair and just to the governor and his deputy,” Elisha added, pointing out Nyako had been a defender of the Nigeria constitution and would not submit himself to an illegally constituted body by the acting Chief Judge.

According to Elisha, the government was not questioning the provision of Section 108 (1 -10) but the procedure adopted in implementING the proceeding under the same constitution.

He further said that the service of the impeachment processes to the governor and his deputy must be personal and not through notices, wondering why any sane person would submit himself to an illegally constitued panel.

Speaking on the threats by the PDP stakeholders to sanction any of the lawmaker who withdrew ‘’from the politically motivated impeachment process,’’ Elisha maintained that Nyako was guilty of any alleged misconduct, stressing that the Adamawa PDP stakeholders were desperate to take over power at all cost, having passed a verdict of guilt on the governor and his deputy even before the judgment.

The panel continues its sitting tomorrow.
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The seven-man panel set up by the former Adamawa State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Nyako and his Deputy, Bala Ngillari commenced sitting yesterday at the Conference Hall of the Federal Secretariat, Yola, the state capital.
Nyako and his Deputy, Bala Ngillari however, refused to appear before the panel on the ground that it was illegally constituted.
The Chairman of the panel, Alhaji Buba Kaigama, who spoke at the venue, apologised for the one week delay in the commencement of sitting, following the problem of locating a venue but assured that the panel would be fair and just to all the parties involved.
Kaigama also pledged that the panel would announce its sittings through six media.
While presenting the matter before the panel, Counsel to the complainants (Adamawa State House of Assembly) Chief Duro Adeyede, SAN, submitted 23 exhibits including a video clip against Nyako and six other exhibits against Ngillari, which were all accepted by the panel.
During his cross examination by Adeyede, a witness to the House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. Wafarniyi Theman identified all the exhibits as the true certified copies as presented by the House against the Nyako and Ngilari.
On what he wanted the the panel to do for the House, Theman asked the members to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct brought against the two first and second citizens of the state by the House of Assembly as well as declare whether they were guilty of the charges or not.
In view of the failure of the governor and his Deputy to attend or send representations, the Chairman of the panel said he would forward the hearing notices to both of them.
Christian Community sue for peace
In a related development, Christians in Adamawa State have urged both the governor and his deputy on one side and members of the House on the other to sheath their swords for the peace to reign in the state.
In a statement signed by the Chairman, Council of Pastors in the state, Rev. Victor Ordinan, they expressed concern over the impeachment process initiated by the House of Assembly against both the governor and his deputy at the same time.
“We understand and accept though, that impeachment is a constitutional matter as enshrined in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“Our role in the matter is not to attempt to unduly interfare with what is a constitutional matter. However, as the first estate, being spiritual leaders, we feel duty bound to sue for peace and to mediate matters when and or where necessary even between the political class,” Ordinan noted.
Ordinan further pleaded with the House of Assembly to save the state from being plunged into anarchy through the impeachment process embarked upon.
”Our position is strictly issue based. We are concerned about peace and security. That is why as a people, we must unite so that together we can avert the severe consequences of impeaching the number one and two citizens of our state at the same time. We know the consequences and cannot sit back to watch them befall us,” he added.
Sanction awaits traitors – PDP stakeholders warn lawmakers
However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders have threatened to sanction any lawmaker in the state assembly who retraced his step in the impeachment saga against Nyako and Ngilari.
Spokesman of the PDP Elders and Stakeholder’s forum, Dr. Umar Ardo who spoke to reporters yesterday in Yola said that the impeachment was a PDP affair adding that any lawmaker from the party who retraced his steps will be sanctioned.
”The impeachment of Nyako and Ngilari is PDP affair. We have got to a level that none of our 20 lawmakers who earlier signed the impeachment notice will be allowed to withdraw. Any PDP lawmaker that retraces his steps ceases to be member of the party, PDP,” Ardo stated.
When asked to comment on the reconciliatory moves between the lawmakers
and Nyako, Ardo argued that the lawmakers’ decision was inferior to the party’s position as they were products of the party.
IMPEACHMENT PANEL NOT ILLLEGITIMATE
However, an Adviser to Adamawa State Government Mr.P.P. Elisha has said that the seven man panel constituted by the acting chief judge of the state was questionable, adding that the panel was also going beyond its boundary by pasting a service letter to a sitting Governor on the streets in the state capital.

Governor Murtala Nyako

Elisha argued that in the past, all impeachment committee members were sworn in by the Chief Judge of the state involved adding that if the swearing in was not necessary there would not have been any need for public officers to take oaths of office and allegiance as provided in the 1999 Constitution.
“The seven man committee is supposed to be a product of the 1999 Constitution. Since the members are not under any oath, their decisions are not likely to be fair and just to the governor and his deputy,” Elisha added, pointing out Nyako had been a defender of the Nigeria constitution and would not submit himself to an illegally constituted body by the acting Chief Judge.
According to Elisha, the government was not questioning the provision of Section 108 (1 -10) but the procedure adopted in implementING the proceeding under the same constitution.
He further said that the service of the impeachment processes to the governor and his deputy must be personal and not through notices, wondering why any sane person would submit himself to an illegally constitued panel.
Speaking on the threats by the PDP stakeholders to sanction any of the lawmaker who withdrew ‘’from the politically motivated impeachment process,’’ Elisha maintained that Nyako was guilty of any alleged misconduct, stressing that the Adamawa PDP stakeholders were desperate to take over power at all cost, having passed a verdict of guilt on the governor and his deputy even before the judgment.
The panel continues its sitting tomorrow.
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