The Yola Division of Federal Court of Appeal on Thursday has declared former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako’s impeachment as null and void eighteen months after.
The House dominated by the People’s Democratic Part had on July 16, 2014, impeached and removed Nyako for gross misconduct, few days after a panel was set up and without Nyako appearing to give his own side to the various allegations levelled against him.
In a unanimous judgment by the five justices of the Court of Appeal, the court said the impeachment was not done in accordance with the provisions of the law as the governor was not served the impeachment notice personally.
In the lead judgment read by Justice Tunde Ayotoye, the judges agreed that Nyako was not given fair hearing.
The court ordered that Nyako be accorded all rights of the Office of the Governor of Adamawa through the period and paid all his entitlements as governor while it lasted.
The court, however, struck out the appeal by Nyako to be returned as governor of the state as his tenure as governor had elapsed.