UGOCHUKWU EKE, OWERRI
It was a mild drama as an Imo State High Court stops the swearing in of the new deputy governor Callistus Ekenze after the impeachment of the former deputy governor, Eze Madumere by the state house of assembly.
The Chief Judge of the state had refused to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of the new deputy governor for the fear of the National Judicial Commission which has been hard on erring judicial officers in recent time.
The state high court had earlier restrained the swearing in of the new deputy governor by asking all the chief judge and other parties involved in the Deputy Governor’s impeachment debacle to stop the swearing in.
This was announced at the floor of Sam Mbakwe Expanded Executive Chamber by the Attorney General of Imo State, Chief Miletus Nlemadim after a long wait of the government officials and family members of Ekenze.
It could be recalled that the Presiding Judge of High Court 8, Imo High Court, Owerri, Hon. Justice Benjamin Iheaka, in his ruling on the request of Prince Madumere’s lead Counsel, Chief Ken Njemanze (SAN) for interlocutory injunction restraining the parties involved in the process of removing the Deputy Governor from the office, had submitted that for the sake of justice, the request was well placed.
Justice Iheaka thereby granted an Order restraining the Chief Judge, Speaker and members of Imo State House of Assembly including the 7 Man panel from further action until all matters that bothered on the constitutionality of the processes were determined.
In defiance to court order, Speaker Acho Ihim faction of the lawmakers loyal to Governor Okorocha who did not even make up a quorum went ahead with the purported impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Madumere.
The Attorney General of the State, Hon. Nlemadim, who was present in the court when Justice Iheaka made a restraining order, knowing the dire consequences if the exercise of swearing-in of the purported nominated candidate of the Governor, which is tantamount the illegality, was said to have prevailed on the Governor to rescind his decision.
It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha’s grouse against his Deputy was alleged to have been hinged on his refusal to support his son-in-law, Mr. Uche Nwosu for governor, and other sundry issues that bother on policies and their negative effect on the people.
Again, Prince Madumere was said to have insisted on power shift to Owerri zone against having a son-in-law who is also from Orlu zone that has ruled the State for about 16 years.
Reacting, the state government through a release, signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, the government said that the Scheduled swearing-in of the new Deputy-Governor of the State, Sir Calistus Ekenze, on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 by 9am, could not take place.
This was as result of the directive by the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha that the Interim Court Order restraining the Chief Judge of the State from carrying out the exercise be fully obeyed.
Our correspondent gathered that the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chamber venue for the event was filled by guests including Senior government functionaries and APC leaders in the State when the governor’s directive came through the Attorney-General of the State, Barr. M.O. Nlemedim in respect of the Court Order.
The release reads, “The governor had insisted that the interim Order be obeyed not minding some issues raised by Senior Lawyers in the government against the Order, insisting that his administration must continue to obey valid Court Orders and also served on the government or agents of the government”.
“It should be recalled that the nineteen (19) members of the State House of Assembly had on Monday, July 30, 2018 impeached the former Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere following the submission last Friday, of the report of the Panel that investigated the accusations against him”.
It should also be recalled that the Deputy-Governor had earlier got an order against the impeachment process, on July 5, 2018 by a State High Court, but the Order was vacated and described as a “nullity” by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja presided over by Justice O.A Musa on July 16, 2018″.
According to the statement, the governor has urged all Imo people and all the Parties in the matter to remain law-abiding and allow the law to take its course.
