A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till November 7, ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement suit, seeking the reinstatement of impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako. Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned for ruling, after hearing arguments from counsel in the suit. A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, is in the suit, challenging the legality of Nyako’s impeachment on July, 15. Ogungbeje had argued that Nyako’s impeachment was a clear derogation from the due process of law, and prayed the court for an order reinstating him a governor. Respondents in the suit are the former acting governor of Adamawa State, Mr Umaru Fintiri, Adamawa State House of Assembly, the former acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, Justice Buba Kajama, (Chairman of the seven-member panel that investigated allegations of gross misconduct against Nyako), Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Inspector General of Police,IG. At the resumed hearing of in the suit, yesterday, defence Counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, argued that the third respondent in the suit (Chief Judge of Adamawa) was not served with the processes in the suit, contending that it will only be fair for the said respondent to be given an opportunity to put in his defence in the suit. He faulted the service of processes on Fintiri and the Adamawa State House of Assembly through the Liaison office in Lagos, noting that the affidavit of service reflected the name of one Mr Kasumu Bauchi, adding that there was nobody with such a name in the Adamawa Liaison office in Lagos. He insisted that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process, since Nyako himself had challenged his impeachment before a High Court in Yola, Adamawa State.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 09:13:48 +0000