Nyako Impeachment: Adamawa Chief Judge Sets Up 7-Member Investigation Panel

The Acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Ambrose Mammadi, has instituted a seven-member panel committee to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the state Governor, Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, by the State House of Assembly.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Court, Abubakar Bayola, the acting chief judge stated that in line with his constitutional responsibility, he has constituted the committee as demanded by the lawmakers.

The statement read in part: “The Hon. Acting Chief Judge Hon. Justice Ambrose D. Mammadi by the powers vested in him under Section 185(5) of the 1999 constitution as (amended) has approved the appointment of seven (7) Man Panel to investigate allegations of Gross Misconduct of the Executive Governor of Adamawa State Admiral Murtala Nyako and the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State Mr. Bala Ngilari”.

The panel is chaired by Buba Kaimaga from Mubi Northern Zone.

The other members are Laraba Hassan, Michika Northern Zone; Njidda Kito, Song Central Zone; Joshua Abu, Hong Central Zone; Binanu Esthon, Guyuk Southern Zone; Sa’ad Lawan, Mayo-Belwa, Southern Zone; and Esthon Gapsiso, Genye Southern Zone.

The statement added that the committee members would be sworn in at a later, unannounced date.

Nyako has been accused by the lawmakers of corruption and mismanagement of state funds. They also accused him of nepotism, among other weighty allegations.

The governor, one of the five Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors, who defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, has, however, denied the allegations, and has dragged the lawmakers to court.

Despite a court order asking the state House of Assembly to suspend the impeachment process, the lawmakers ignored the order and asked the Chief Judge to set up a seven-member committee to investigate the allegations.