Mild tension Thursday enveloped Yola, the Adamawa State capital as the supporters of former Governor Murtala  Nyako who were expecting the verdict of the Federal High Court in the city to return the former governor to office as governor had their hopes dashed.

The court, presided over by Justice Bilikus Bello Aliyu, dismissed the suit for what she described as an abuse of court process.

Nyako had challenged his impeachment at the court, arguing that it was illegally executed by the state House of Assembly.

He equally claimed that the constitution was not strictly adhered to.

However, Justice Aliyu during her ruling, said she dismissed the suit because “the case  brought before her was an abuse of court process as there are three suits still pending before the court on the same subject matter. For this reason, I cannot entertain the suit, the case is hereby dismissed.”

The judge who upheld the objection of the counsel to the counsel first respondent, Mr. Leonard Zadon, that the same case was pending before three high courts, stressed that it was an abuse of court process.

Justice Aliyu, who had earlier upheld the applicant’s argument that the governor’s right was grossly infringed upon by the respondents, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, added that “I cannot continue with this case as the court runs concurrently with other courts. Therefore, we will not encourage litigants abusing court processes.”

Some of the former governor’s supporters who spoke with THISDAY shortly after the  verdict, said all hope was not lost since they are still pursuing the same case in other courts.

They claimed that they came to the court with believing that Nyako will be returned to his seat and complete his tenure as the governor of the state.
They expressed confidence that the former governor will get justice else where, adding that the case had undergone serious hitches because of the influence of Nyako’s political enemies in and outside the state.