Imo Assembly Against Court Orders, Impeaches Deputy Governor

The Imo State House of Assembly has impeached the Deputy Governor, Mr. Eze Madumere.

He was impeached on Monday by 19 members out of the 27 member-assembly.

The Speaker of the House, Acho Ihim, said the impeachment followed the outcome of a report of a 7-man panel which was constituted by the Chief Judge of the state to investigate allegations of gross misconduct.

The allegation of gross misconduct was premised on four reasons which included his absence without reasons for a period of three months and a failure to perform constitutional duties like attending state executive and state security council meetings.

Others included his alleged failure to attend meetings with the Governor and other government functionaries as well as an alleged concealment of the felonious act in the United States.

Meanwhile, Justice Ben Iheka of the Imo State High Court on Monday restrained the panel set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Paschal Nnadi, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Acho Ihim, and the State House of Assembly from taking any further action in the impeachment process of the state deputy governor, Eze Madumere, until the hearing and determination of the suit.

The panel was set up by the chief judge to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against the deputy governor by the state House of Assembly.

Justice Iheka also directed the three members of the impeachment panel that was yet to be served the motion for an interlocutory injunction to respect the suit, which is before the court.

Counsel to the deputy governor, Ken Njemanze (SAN), told the court that his client was ready and prepared to allow his impeachment process to be determined by the court.

He said that his client was relying on the court to dispense justice in the matter which bordered on the person and office of the state’s Number Two citizen.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Militus Nlemadim (SAN), said he was opposing the plaintiff’s request for the court to grant an interim order as sought by his colleague.

Nlemadim said that instead of an interim order, there should be an accelerated hearing, stressing that the duty of the panel had already been spelled out by the Constitution.

After hearing from the counsel, the court granted the request made by counsel to the embattled deputy governor and adjourned till August 13.

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