Impeachment: Adamawa Assembly Directs CJ To Set Up Panel The State Adamawa State House of Assembly yesterday moved to hasten the planned impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako: the lawmakers directed the acting chief judge of the state, Hon. Justice Ambrose Mamadi, to constitute a seven- man panel to investigate allegations of “gross misconduct” levelled against the governor and his deputy, Mr James Ngilari. The panel is expected to submit its report within one week. But the action of the lawmakers is in defiance of a subsisting court order restraining them from going ahead with the planned impeachment, pending the determination of a suit inInvestigationsstituted by the governor. As Governor Nyako battles for survival, an alleged plot to impeach the Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura, is being hatched. There are allegations that the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are behind the plot. But the PDP has denied involvement in the alleged plot even as it challenged Governor Al-Makura to face his lawmakers. The governors of Adamawa and Nasarawa states are of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). In the case of Adamawa State, the Assembly’s resolution was sequel to two documents signed and verified by the speaker, Alhaji Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, who is one of the 20 out of the 25-member state legislature that resolved that Nyako and his deputy should be impeached. The lawmakers, who had earlier signed the impeachment notice, reiterated their resolve to pursue the impeachment move to its logical conclusion, even as they expressed support for the speaker’s action. The lawmakers said their decision to ask the CJ to constitute the panel at the plenary yesterday was taken after both Governor Nyako and his deputy failed to defend themselves over the allegations of gross misconduct, adding that all constitutional processes at their (lawmakers’) disposal had been deployed to that effect. The Tuesday proceedings of the Assembly, which was presided over by Fintiri, was attended by more than two- thirds of the lawmakers as they adopted “The Panel of Investigation Rules of Procedure of Adamawa State”, which Fintiri said should include a chairman, a secretary and five others. “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 requires 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. It also stated that the panel may regulate the time for giving of evidence or 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. ‘Action of lawmakers contemptuous of subsisting court order’ Meanwhile, the lead lawyer to Nyako, Mr Ayo Akam, who held briefs for Kanu Aganbi at a Yola High Court sitting, described the action of the Adamawa House of Assembly as a contempt of court as the court had already restrained the house from carrying on the impeachment process. “If they go ahead to pass a resolution to ask the chief judge to constitute the seven-man panel, that will be a violation of the court order,’’ he said. When further asked what line of action they would take, the lawyer said: “We will consult our clients on whether to enforce the order or let it be. On June 26, 2014, a Yola High Court presided over by the acting chief judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ambrose Mamadi, restrained the lawmakers from carrying out the impeachment process until the case is decided by the court. Plot to impeach Gov. Al-Makura thickens Nasarawa State Assembly members are intensifying moves to actualise their longstanding plot to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura, as no fewer than 20 lawmakers met in Abuja on Tuesday evening to perfect the alleged plan. According to a source who did not want to be named, a meeting was convened at a guest house in the Asokoro district of the capital city about 7pm on Tuesday where the anti-Al-Makura lawmakers extensively deliberated on how to actualise the impeachment plot. LEADERSHIP gathered that N1billion inducement package with support from the PDP and the Presidency is on the cards for the lawmakers. Our correspondent learnt that any lawmaker who buys into the plot will take home between N40 and N50million while N270million is budgeted as settlement for the judiciary. An influential woman is said to have promised to serve as a link between the Presidency and the lawmakers, but the Presidency, it was gathered, is still reluctant to be involved in the plot. “Although I cannot ascertain whether the lady has been able to get presidential assent to the plot, I can authoritatively tell you that if all goes as planned, the lawmakers will get the money by Friday (tomorrow),” the source said. Influential members of the opposition in the state as well as a top government official are said to be behind the funding of the impeachment plot. The deputy governor, Damishi Luka, has been accused of being behind previous alleged impeachment moves by the PDP- dominated House of Assembly against Governor Al-Makura. Special adviser on special duties Abdullahi? Mohammed confirmed the report when contacted. According to Mohammed, the plot has been going on for some time. But he maintained that the governor had the mandate of the people of Nasarawa State to deliver services that will better their lot and would not be intimidated be detractors. “They are going about dropping the name of Mr President, saying the minister of petroleum and some PDP governors have indicated interest in footing the bills,” Mohammed said. Al-Makura should face his lawmakers – PDP Meanwhile, the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has challenged the governor and his associates to show proof that his party, the PDP, was behind the plot. Besides, Metuh said the governor should face his lawmakers if there was any need for him to explain some of his actions and inactions. Metuh stated: “People should be reasonable enough to know that there is a wide range of difference between the legislature and the executive; their roles are different even though complementary. “The PDP has no business in Nasarawa Assembly’s move to impeach their governor, if at all; neither is the Presidency involved. What we have come to notice is that whenever an APC governor has crisis in his state, he cries foul to the rooftop; he accuses the PDP. I think it will do Nigerians a great service for the governor to either show evidence of the allegations or keep quiet. “In the alternative, if there is need, the governor should face the state lawmakers to explain his actions and inactions; after all, his party claims to be a party of democrats and progressives, so they should allow the lawmakers to do their job, if any. They should count us out of their problems.”
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 05:02:53 +0000