Impeachment: Nyako declares public holiday

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.”

“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 PUNCH 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.