Nyako impeached, speaker sworn in as acting gov

THE Adamawa State House of Assembly has sacked the state governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (retd), from office. This came as his deputy, Bala James Ngillari, dodged impeachment, as he resigned from office. Ngillari’s letter of resignation was read by the speaker of the assembly, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to members, shortly before the assembly considered the report of the Buba Kaigama-led seven-man investigation panel set up to look into the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Nyako and his deputy. “I kindly wish to notify you of my resignation from office as deputy governor forthwith,” the letter read. A member of the assembly, Honourable Kwamoti Laori, moved the motion for the adoption of the resignation of the deputy governor, which was seconded by Honourable Wafarninyi Theman. The 17 members who attended the sitting unanimously approved Ngillari’s resignation, a situation that made the office of the deputy governor vacant. The speaker, who had earlier informed the house of the receipt of the panel’s report, read out the findings, which found Nyako guilty of 16 out of the 20 allegations levelled against him. The panel, among other things, indicted the Nyako-led administration of impunity over the non-payment of civil servants salaries. It further found the administration culpable of running the affairs of government with “family and friends.” The report cited the office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), being managed by the son in-law to the governor, as being behind the fictitious N2 billion loan repayment between the office and one commercial bank in the state. Nyako was also accused of abusing state powers by appointing one of his wives as the state chairperson of the State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA), contrary to laws. Honourable Jerry Kumdisi, in his contribution, urged his colleagues to adopt the report. He was supported by Honourable Laori, who also commented on the same matter, adding that the assembly had met the two-third requirements needed to adopt the report which indicted the governor. The speaker then went over the signatures of the 18 members who signed to adopt the report, before invoking Section 189(9) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. “And with this verified 17 signatures of members of the assembly, though 18 signed, I, therefore, declare that Governor Nyako stand removed from office,” the speaker said. But the earlier resignation of the deputy governor had created a vaccum. Honourable Laori, however, citing Section 191(1) and (2) of the constitution, moved that the speaker be sworn in to act as governor, since both the offices of the governor and the deputy governor had become vacant. The motion Honourable Fintiri should that act as the governor for three months, until election is conducted, was seconded by Honourable Adamu Kamale and unanimously adopted by the members.