The seven-man impeachment panel constituted to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and his Deputy, Bala Ngilari commenced sitting in Yola Monday behind closed doors under heavy armed security guard.
The sitting of the panel members is holding at a private hotel, J&J Holiday Villa.
This was even as indications emerged last night that Nyako was set to reign from office, barring any last minute change of heart.
The sitting of the panel members is holding at a private hotel, J&J Holiday Villa.
This was even as indications emerged last night that Nyako was set to reign from office, barring any last minute change of heart.
Nyako alongside his deputy, Bala Ngilari, is presently facing impeachment moves from members of the state assembly over allegations of gross misconduct.
Last minute efforts to save governor
While Nyako contemplates resignation, it was also gathered that a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, flew into Yola yesterday and is reportedly making moves to stop the impeachment from materialising.
Armed guard
The stern looking armed security personnel were stationed in and around the hotel, just as a military Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, was stationed along the street leading to the venue to scare away possible intruders.
The Military High Command has denied having any hand in the bid to remove Nyako, despite the takeover of the residence of the Adamawa State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, by armed soldiers.
However, members of the panel were earlier scheduled to be inaugurated in the morning, as announced earlier by the Chief Registrar of the state High Court, Abubakar Babayola but the situation suddenly changed when the state government declared yesterday and today as public holidays ostensibly to prevent the Acting Chief Judge from inaugurating the penal, even as journalists who converged at the venue of the panel’s sitting for coverage of the inaugural meeting were chased away by the security men.
Commenting on this development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House, Mr Solomon Kumanga expressed regret that the panel closed its doors to journalists, even as one of its terms of references was to conduct its sittings in public.
He, however, promised to wade into the issue to ensure that the media was accorded its proper position during the panel’s assignment.
Soldiers take over CJ’s residence
Meanwhile, the soldiers numbering over 10, took over the home of the CJ in the Maskari area of Jimeta on Friday shortly before Mammadi was caused to be announced on public radio and television stations, the names of the seven-member panel to probe the allegations of misdeeds against embattled governor Nyako.
Although it was not clear why the armed soldiers had to swoop on the residence of the topmost judicial officer in the state at the time they did, there were fears that the action might not be unconnected with the sustained move by the state House of Assembly to remove the governor over allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Findings by one of our correspondents indicated that the soldiers were still at the residence of the CJ as at Monday evening and might not quit until the CJ inaugurates the impeachment panel against Nyako.
Nyako’s declaration of a two-day prayer holiday on Monday and Tuesday, prevented the CJ from inaugurating the panel, which nonetheless did not deter the members from proceeding with their assignment, which may be concluded within a few days before the embattled governor can push for an appeal.
The presence of the soldiers at Mammadi’s house notwithstanding, the Defence Headquarters on Monday denied that that the military was threatening the CJ to constitute a panel to probe Governor Nyako.
In a posting on its Twitter handle yesterday, the Defence Headquarters described the claim as false and strange, saying that it would not be entangled with the narratives of troubled persons alleging persecution to stir resentment.
The Defence Headquarters said it had serious work to do but did not say whether it was in Adamawa or in the whole country.
“Allegation of threat by Military to Adamawa State Chief Judge on constitution of a probe panel to investigate Gov. Nyako is strange and false.
“The Military will not be entangled with narratives of troubled persons alleging persecution to stir resentment. We have serious work to do,” the DHQ said.
There were indications yesterday that the panel might conclude its work within the week to pave the way for the early exit of Nyako from office and clear the way for his Deputy, who is likely to be cleared, to take over the mantle of leadership in the state.
However, other sources which doubted the chances of the Deputy Governor becoming the governor said that the Speaker who hails from the same area with him, did not see to eye with him, hence would not give power to his supposed political enemy.
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