Nyako’s Impeachment Suffers Setback Again

By Garba Mohammad
The impeachment process initiated by twenty out of twenty five members of the Adamawa state House of Assembly has on Thursday suffered yet another setback as a Yola High Court presided over by acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi dismissed an application filed by the lawmakers over its jurisdiction on the case file by Governor Murtala Nyako who earlier obtained an interlocutory Injunction to quash the impeachment proceedings .
While ruling on the lawmakers’ application on whether the court has jurisdiction or not, to entertain the suit brought by the state governor in respect of impeachment process initiated by the lawmakers , the presiding judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi averred that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit and therefore dismissed the lawmakers application and adjourned to July 9,2014.
It could be recalled that the state High Court had earlier slammed interlocutory injunction restraining the lawmakers for taking any decision pending the determination of the suit filed by the governor.
Reacting on the Thursday’s ruling, a counsel to the embattled governor Barr. Ayo Akumu expressed happiness with the ruling,’’ I am comfortable; my joy is that the court did not say it has no jurisdiction to entertain the case. The matter is still pending before the court ,I am o.k with it.
‘’The action taken by the House of Assembly as at yesterday,I had made it clear that is a violation of the court order,’’ said he.
Also reacting Nyako’s adviser on legal matters,Hajiya Hadiza Aminu applauded the ruling, ‘’We are happy for today’s ruling which says that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, that’s why it has been adjourned to July 9,2014 for continuation.
‘’We appeal to our teeming supporters to remain calm, resolute and be law abiding as the court is on the top of the matter,’’ she said.
It’s not clear for now whether the state acting judge had received any correspondence by the lawmakers to constitute the seven man panel or not as the chief registrar of the High Court, Alh. Abubakar Babayola denied any communication, ‘’as I am talking to you now, we are yet to receive their correspondence, and if there is any we will communicate to you,’’ said the chief registrar
But when contacted on phone, the chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the state Assembly, Mr Solomon Kumangar has said that, ‘’ The clerk has since communicated the matter and it was received at the chamber of the acting chief Judge before closing hours,’’ he claimed.