Impending Drama Looms Over Nyako’s Impeachment As Tenure Of The Acting Chief Justice Of The State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, Expired Yesterday!

Embattled Gov. Nyako

Confusion is looming in Adamawa state over the on-going attempt to impeach governor, Murtalla Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngillari, because the tenure of the acting Chief Justice of the state, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, expires today. The chief Justice had constituted a seven-man panel on Friday to investigate allegations of gross misconduct brought against the Governor and his deputy by the state House of Assembly. But with his tenure expiring today and the panel expected to be fully inaugurated on Monday, stakeholders in the state are waiting to see who will inaugurate the six-man panel that will pave the way for them to commence full impeachment move against the governor. Already, sources from the Adamawa state Government house are saying any inauguration by the acting CJ is unconstitutional as his three months tenure will elapse today.

The Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Murtala Nyako, Mallam Ahmad Sajo when contacted over the issue said, the acting CJ can only inaugurate the panel in breach of the constitution as his tenure will elapsed today (sunday) Efforts to contact the chief judge were not successful. However, an attempt to contact the registrar of the High Court, Abubakar Babayola to comment on the expiration of the tenure of the chief judge proved abortive as calls to his phone were not answered.

Meanwhile, the impeachment itself has taken a new dimension, as allegations were rife that the acting chief judge was forced to constitute the seven-man investigative panel. Some APC stalwarts in the state who pleaded anonymity said they suspected foul play in how the panel was set up. According to them, the Chief justice, knowing his tenure will expire today didn’t want to constitute the panel, but was consequently forced to.

It is also alleged that despite governor Nyako publicly absolving the presidency from having a hand in his travail, suspicion of the Presidency’s involvement was fuelled by the no-love-lost relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Murtala Nyako which came to its nexus when Nyako sent a memo to the Northern Governors’ Forum accusing Jonathan of carrying out genocide against northerners.

Since then, President Jonathan was said to have decided to ease Nyako out from office as the memo was said to have subjected the presidency to embarrassment and international ridicule. However, in the latest development, Nyako suggested that the presidency has no hands in his ordeals, but prominent Adamawa  politicians living in Abuja. Leading to fingers being pointed at former Vice President Atiku Abubarka.

According to leadership.ng,  the chief judge was actually compelled to constitute the panel under duress. The source further revealed that some soldiers have been drafted to the house of the acting CJ to keep tabs on him. When reporters went to the house of the acting chief judge, a soldier was seen on surveillance and wielding an AK 47 assault rifle.

Source: www.leadership.ng