The Acting Chief Judge of Adamawa, Justice Ambrose Mammadi has sworn in Mr. James Bala Ngilari as Governor of Adamawa state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Earlier today The Federal Government directed the Chief Judge of Adamawa State to swear-in Mr. Bala Ngilari as Governor of the state in compliance with the Federal High court ruling in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday sacked acting Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and ordered the Chief Judge of the state to swear-in Mr. Ngilari as the state governor.

A statement by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN said the Federal High Court by its judgment “nullified the swearing in of Ahmadu Umar Fintiri as the Acting Governor of Adamawa State and declared the resignation of James Bala Ngilari as unconstitutional, null and void.”

The statement which was signed by the minister’s spokesman Adedeji Ajibade said: “In obedience to the judgment of the court and the need to avert a vacuum in governance and possible constitutional crises, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN hereby calls on the Chief Judge of Adamawa State to immediately swear in Barrister James Bala Ngilari as the Governor of Adamawa State.

“The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also called upon in obedience to the judgment of the Federal High Court to keep in abeyance all the arrangements made for the conduct of the bye-elections scheduled to take place in Adamawa State on Saturday, 11th October 2014.”

Ngilari was deputy to governor to Murtala Nyako before he was impeached on July 15 for “gross misconduct”.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega said the commission was awaiting the formal court order to decide on the conduct of the Adamawa Governorship By-election scheduled for Saturday according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The court presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting next Saturday’s by-election to fill the governorship seat.

Justice Ademola declared that the swearing in of acting governor Umaru Fintiri was illegal and unconstitutional while ordering his immediate vacation of the government house.

Shortly before Nyako was impeached, Ngilari reportedly tendered his resignation to the then Speaker of the state house of assembly Umaru Fintiri. Ngilari later went to court seeking to be sworn in as governor given that the constitution provides that he submits his resignation to the sitting governor who had not been removed at the time of his resignation. His resignation to then speaker was a nullity, he contended.

The now ousted acting Governor Umaru Fintiri said he has instructed his lawyers to appeal against the court judgment removing him from office.

•Photo shows Governor James Bala Ngilari of Adamawa State.

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