Nyako, deputy get impeachment notice

Adamawa State House of Assembly has resolved to start impeachment proceedings against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy James Bala Ngilari over allegations of gross misconduct.The Assembly  at a plenary yesterday approved a list of 20 acts of gross misconduct committed by the governor and the Speaker Ahmadu Fintiri directed the Clerk to serve him […]

Adamawa State House of Assembly has resolved to start impeachment proceedings against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy James Bala Ngilari over allegations of gross misconduct.
The Assembly  at a plenary yesterday approved a list of 20 acts of gross misconduct committed by the governor and the Speaker Ahmadu Fintiri directed the Clerk to serve him impeachment notice.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kwamoti Laori (Numan Constituency) moved the motion for an impeachment which was approved by 20 of the 25-member assembly.
The allegations range from fraudulent diversion of public funds, extra-budgetary expenditure, appointment of family members and friends in to public offices and siphoning of public funds, among others.
 The lawmakers accused Nyako of diversion of N2.3 billion meant for workers salaries and illegal diversion N142 million emolument of workers and another N1 billion earmarked for the Adamawa State Scholarship Trust Fund.
 They also alleged diversion of over N400m out of the N500m Federal Government Intervention fund for flood victims in Adamawa State in 2011.
 Also on the list are extra-budgetary expenditures of N1.7 billion and N166 million respectively   in respect of ‘fictitious’ special assistants and personal assistants allowances as well as N4.8 billion and N7.1 billion in 2013 and 2014 respectively expended through the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
 The office of the state Coordinator of Millenium Development Goals (MDG’S) is also alleged to have spent N1 billion outside the budget in 2013.
 Allegations relating to fraudulent award of contracts to siphon public funds include contracts of N8 billion and N300 million awarded to SNECOU and Hydrosource Ltd both of which did not deliver the services.
The lawmakers further accused Nyako of violation of Adamawa State Law by appointing his wife, Dr. Halima H. Nyako as the Chairman Adamawa State Action Committee on AIDS and of financial strangulation of the local government councils in the name of joint projects and security challenges in Mubi and other parts of Adamawa State.
The motion for the impeachment of the deputy governor Mr. Ngilari was moved by  Abdulkarim Umar  (Nassarawo/Binyeri)  who alleged that the deputy governor has committed acts of gross misconduct including the diversion of public funds to the tune of N50million released to his office for the acquisition of licence for exploration of solid minerals.
 He said Ngilari also made extra- budgetary expenditure of N397 million naira.
 Reacting to the move, Nyako’s spokesman Ahmad Sajoh said the governor was not served any notice but was privy to the issues they raised which he believed were false.
 Sajoh said the lawmakers were working for their selfish ends to sack the governor and the deputy governor to pave way for the speaker to become acting governor and for the deputy speaker to emerge as the acting speaker.
“Section 188 has given the Assembly the powers to start this process but they are purely driven by selfishness and greed. They cannot decide on this matter since they are the beneficiaries of the end result,” he added.
Shortly after the House of Assembly approved the impeachment notice, a group of protesters poured on the street in Yola with placards some of which read: Adamawa House of Assembly why impeachment now?, The House of Assembly wanted to truncate the fragile peace in the state; You just passed a vote of confidence on the governor and his administration, why the sudden change now?

The charges:

1. Fraudulent diversion of N2.3 billion Adamawa State workers’ salary for September and October, 2011.

2. Illegal deductions and diversions of  the sum of N142 million emoluments of Adamawa State workers in May 2014.

3. Diversion of N120 million to sponsor fictitious visit of General Muhammadu Buhari to Adamawa State to commiserate with victims of insurgency in Madagili and Michika Local Government Areas.

4. Extra-budgetary expenditure of N1,740,785,246 fictitious special assistants and another N166,230,536.88 on Personal Assistants in 2013.

5. Fraudulent award of contract of over N8 billion through SNECOU Group of Companies Ltd, a company linked to one of the governor’s wife, to siphon public funds without delivering any services to the people of Adamawa State.

6. Corrupt siphoning of the sum of N300 million public funds through a company, Hydrosource Resources Ltd in the name of construction of Mubi by-pass witouth mobilizing to site or any construction one carried out long after collecting N300 million from Adamawa State funds.
7. Gross violation of the Oath of Office by outrageous patronage and dominance of family and friends in the discharge of government business such as found in the MDGs Office, the SPPU and Ministry of Health.

8. Gross violation of Section 120 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and gross misappropriation of Internally Generated Revenue for personal use to the detriment of the people of Adamawa State.

9. Squandering the sum of N4,805,216,538.32 and N7,114,995,590.85 in 2012 and 2013 respectively through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government against budgetary approvals, and not in the interest of the people of Adamawa State.

10. Expenditures of exorbitant N2.5 billion “Other Miscellaneous Expenses” through the Internal Affairs and Special Services Department.

11. Extra-budgetary procurement of fertilizer and diversion of proceeds from the sales of fertilizer from 2007 to date.

12. The MDGs Office in Adamawa State is managed by the Governor Nyako’s close relations and has squandered N220 million and N786,457,644.94 million unbudgeted state funds in 2013 for the implementation of MDGs program in the state.

13. Diversion of over N400 million out of the N500 million Federal Government Intervention Fund for flood victims in Adamawa State 2011.

14. Diversion of government funds through the illegal importation of Hospital Equipment to the tune of N156 million while the state still owes the contractor; and illegal acquisition of Containarized Mobile Workshop for Vocational Training Centres.

15. Corruption and extra-budgetary awards of contracts for the construction of Army Barracks – Mayobelwa Road, Pella – Maiha Road, Gombi – Ga’anda – Fotta Road, Rumde – Yolde Pate Road, construction of Mubi by-pass, contrary to Section 120 (2) (3) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

16. Squandering of N1 billion Adamawa State Scholarship Trust Fund.

17. Shoddy conception and operation of Adamawa German Hospital, managed by a close relation to Governor Nyako.

18. Reckless expenditures of public funds contrary to Section 121 subsection 4 (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

19. Abuse of office and violation of Adamawa State Law by appointing his wife, Dr Halima H. Nyako, as the chairman Adamawa State Action Committee on Aids (SACA) contrary to the SACA Law. His government is popularly nicknamed “Government of Family and Friends.”

20. Overbearing strangulation of the Local Government Areas and extortion of the Local Government Funds in the name of joint projects and security in Mubi and other parts of Adamawa State. This leaves many Local Government Areas with nothing to pay workers’ entitlements. The governor is also known to consistently contravene Section 168 (6) and (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.