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Lawmakers in Adamawa State, North-East Nigeria, have realised their ambition of ousting both Governor Murtala Nyako and Deputy Governor James Bala Ngilari.

While Nyako was impeached earlier today, Ngilari sent in his letter of resignation at the last minute when it became apparent that the lawmakers were not in war mood.

Ngilari and Nyako had refused to cooperate with the Adamawa State House of Assembly as it investigated whaty it descried as impeachable acts of gross corruption against them. None of the two men agreed to appear before the seven-man panel set up by the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, to probe as directed by the House.

Nyako was ousted after 18 of the 25 legislators voted for his impeachment.

The panel that investigated the allegations against him and Ngilari submitted its report to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Umaru Fintri, yesterday.

While submitting the report in Yola, the chairman of the panel, Alhaji Abubakar Kaigama, said that the committee gave the governor and his deputy the opportunity to appear and defend themselves, but they refused to honour the invitation.

“The panel invited the governor and the deputy governor twice, but they refused to come to the panel or send their representatives,” he said.

Kaigama said that the members of the panel had seen their assignment as a great opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of democracy in the country.

He said that the appointment of the panel was strictly in line with Section 188 sub-section [5] of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

•Photo shows former Adamawa State Deputy Governor James Bala Ngilari.

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