Adamawa House Directs CJ To Raise Panel To Probe Nyako!

The Adamawa State House of Assembly yesterday directed the Acting Chief Judge to, within seven days, constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the alleagtions of misconduct levelled against Governor Murtala Nyako and Deputy Governor James Ngilari.
Speaker Ahmadu Umar Fintiri announced the decision on the floor of the House after its sitting.
According to him, the decision followed the impeachment notice and allegations of misconduct leveled against the governor and his deputy, signed by 20 out of the 25 members of the House.
Deputy Speaker Kwamoti Laori moved the motion which was seconded by Umar Abdullkareem.
Quoting Section 188 Sub Section 3 and 4 of the Constitution, Laori said a notice of impeachment stating the allegations against the duo were sent and the constitutional 14 days had elapsed without any feedback from them.
Laori said:  “By virtue of section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, we have satisfied the two-thirds majority with 20 out of the 25 members, which empowers the state Assembly to call on the Chief judge to constitute an investigative panel”.
Speaker Fintiri directed the clerk to prepare a clean copy of the resolution for the acting Chief Judge to inaugurate a panel to investigate the allegations leveled against the governor and his deputy.
he added: “ The panel shall in the course of its proceedings adopt the ordinary rules of fair hearing. The panel may, however, in its discretion, be guided by the High Court Civil Rules of Adamawa State and the provisions of the Evidence Act, 2009”.
The procedure also maintained that evidence adduced before the panel may be oral or documentary; and that the evidence shall be led in the first instance in proof of an allegation; evidence may be led in the next instance in rebuttal of the allegation.
That the panel may regulate the time for the giving of evidence or the making of an application or final submission by witnesses or parties or counsel on their behalf and the panel’s decision in this regard shall be final.
However, Governor Nyako’s lawyer, Ayo Akam, holding brief for Kanu Aganbi,(SAN), described the action of the Adamawa House of Assembly  as a contempt of court. He said the court had restrained the House from carrying on the impeachment process.
On June 26, A Yola High Court, presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mamadi, restrained the lawmakers from carrying out the impeachment process until the case is decided by the court. Source: thenationonlineng.net

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