IMPEACHMENT DRAMA IN ADAMAWA AS GOVERNOR NYAKO DECLARES PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

The Adamawa State government yesterday declared today Monday July 7 and Tuesday July 8 as work-free days according to DailyTrust.

This is coming a day to the inauguration of the seven-man panel set up by the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mamadi, to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngillari. Justice Mamadi’s tenure, will expire tomorrow Tuesday.

“Governor Murtala Nyako has approved Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th of July, 2014 as work-free days in Adamawa State. This is to enable the people reflect on the current happenings in the country and use the period to offer special prayers for peace in the state. The period is also to enable Adamawa workers reflect on current challenges,” the statement said.

The declaration of the public holiday is seen as a move to frustrate the impeachment process started against the governor by the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

In an interview with Daily Trust in Yola, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Party (APC) Phineas Padio, wondered why the out-going chief judge went ahead to set up the panel after he had ruled that the method used by the lawmakers to serve the impeachment notice on the governor and his deputy was unconstitutional.

“The acting CJ had ruled that the notice of allegation must be served through personal means, he even quoted a Supreme Court ruling that said they could not be served through the pages of newspapers as the House did but he went ahead to constitute the panel while the notice was not properly served”, he said.

Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House, Solomon Kumanga, agreed with the idea to offer special prayers but said: “We are not aware of the holiday, but there is need for prayers because we have information they have smuggled in mercenaries to attack or kidnap the people involved in the impeachment. That is why security is beefed around them,” Kumanga said.