The seven-man panel constituted by the Adamawa State Acting Chief Judge, to investigate alleged gross misconduct against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Mr. Bala Ngilari, has been hit with a venue crisis.

The panel has yet to secure another place to sit after it was given quit notice yesterday at the first venue, J & J Holiday Villa, over security concerns.

It was gathered customers of the hotel were scared by the presence of heavy security around it, a reason the panel was asked to relocate.

Other hotels visited by the clerk of the state assembly to host the panel equally turned down the offer, for fear of the unknown.

The panel also tried the NLC club, a.k.a Labour House, but was told the chairman was away on lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Attempts said to have been made by a former national officer to secure the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre also failed as members of the executive of the state council rejected the request for security reasons.

A former national officer of the NUJ, who is alleged to be in the forefront, negotiating the usage of the centre, was alleged to have even made contact with the North East zonal leadership of the union on the need to compel the Adamawa council leadership to release the centre to the panel.

The division within the state NUJ leadership compelled the state executive to hold an emergency executive council meeting where majority of the members kicked against the usage of the NUJ for the panel’s sitting. The rejection of the offer by the NUJ was even as the clerk promised to deploy soldiers to the centre to ensure security of the panel members and that of the centre.

It was gathered that the Clerk of the state House of Assembly had earlier deposited N170,000 for the venue but the money was later returned, after the union turned down the usage of the centre.

As at the time of filing this report the panel was yet to get venue for its sitting.

Meanwhile, hopes that Nyako and Ngilari could still be saved rose when the Adamawa State Traditional Council yesterday waded into the political imbroglio.

The Council of Chiefs and Emirs meeting, presided over by the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo, explored avenues on how to possibly stave off the impeachment noose hanging over Nyako and his deputy and also mandated royal fathers to reconcile the lawmakers and the executive to ensure peace in the state.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has reportedly left the state for Abuja to “escape pressure from some prominent politicians who are trying to prevail on him to drop their plans to impeach Nyako.”

•Based on reports in Nigerian Tribune and National Mirror. Photo shows Governor Nyako.

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