The long-awaited judgement in the case of impeachment of the former Adamawa state Governor, Murtala Nyako, by the state House of Assembly has been slated for noon today, Thursday.

The judge, Bilikus Aliyu, who is already in court, sent the court officials to tell the lawyers and other litigants the judgement will come up by noon.

Sources close to the court said the delay in the commencement of the proceeding was because the judge was typing the judgment herself.

Mrs. Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Yola, had on Friday, May 11 set May 22 to rule on the matter after adopting the written addresses of the parties and their arguments.
 
The counsel to Mr. Nyako, Ogunyele Olukoya, while making his final submission prayed the court to quash the former governor’s impeachment as it did not follow proper procedure.

“The applicant’s complaint in the case borders on the violation of his right to fair hearing guaranteed him under section 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended,” Mr. Olukoya said.

He noted that, to serve the cause of justice, there were cases where the applicant’s plea for rights to fair hearing was breached and the courts ruled in those circumstances in favour of the applicant.

However, counsel to the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Leonard Nzadon, objected to the plea by the applicant, saying it was “grossly insufficient.”

“The case brought before her lordship has no connection with fundamental human rights but that bordering on impeachment,” he said.

He therefore asked the court to dismiss the suit.

Reacting on the outcome of the May 11 court proceedings, one of the chieftains of the All Progressives Congress and a staunch loyalist of the former governor, Mijinyawa Kugama, said he was happy the D-day has been set and (the supporters of Mr. Nyako) would keep faith with it.
 
“Even if it was for one day, let the courts vindicate the former governor by quashing his impeachment,” Mr. Kugama said. “Myself and all other good people of the state hope and pray that even if it is for just 24 hours, let the courts reinstate Murtala Nyako back to the office of governor.”