As House asks CJ to constitute panel

BY UMAR YUSUF

Yola—Adamawa State House of Assembly has directed the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mamadi to constitute a seven-man impeachment panel within seven days to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, James Bala Ngillari.

Gov. Nyako

The directive is in defiance of an earlier court oder restraining the Assembly from proceeding with the matter which was before the court.

At yesterday’s plenary, the House cited Section 188 (3)(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which empowered the members to proceed with the impeachment processes. They said that both the governor and his deputy failed to defend themselves against allegations of gross misconduct made against them, adding that due processes had been followed to that effect.

The House further noted that the directive to the chief judge followed the expiration of the two weeks given to Nyako and Ngillari to reply to the allegations of gross mismanagement and fraud levelled against them.
Two requests signed by 20 out of the 25 legislators and verified by the Speaker, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, led to the resolution of the House to start the impeachment proceedings against Nyako and Ngillari.

According to the terms of reference of the panel, its proceedings would be held in public and shall be conducted from 9am to 5pm each day.
Yesterday’s proceedings was presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Fintiri.