UGOCHUKWU EKE, OWERRI
The plan to impeach Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere which many thought may have died has resurrected with the constitution of. 7 man panel of inquiry to look into the allegations leveled against him by his colleagues.
The chief Judge of the state, Justice Paschal Nnadi, has empaneled a Seven-Man-panel of inquiry to look into the allegations against the Deputy Governor, Prince Madumere.
It will be recalled that the impeachment proceedings against Prince Madumere had been stalled by failure of the lawmakers to follow due process as required by law, which was challenged in court.
Prince Madumere through his lawyer, Chief ken Njemanze, had challenged the procedure adopted by the House of Assembly, at the Imo State High Court, alleging that the petitioners had not served him.
The challenge of the embattled deputy governor bothers on the constitutional requirement that stipulates that he must be mandatorily served personally as he is also required to respond personally according to 1999 Constitution (as amended).
However many Imo people have condemned the impeachment move against the Deputy Governor, describing it as mere witch-hunt over Prince Madumere’s refusal to support Governor Okorocha’s 3rdterm agenda through his son-in-law and other policy related issues.
Some of the notable leaders who spoke against impeachment of Prince Madumere were former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Victor Umeh, Hon. Henry Nwuwuba, Mr. Okey Eze including youths, trade unions and women groups.
It could be recalled that in a bid to register their aversion to the impeachment move against the Madumere, concerned Imo citizens took to the streets of Owerri to protest the move, declaring him innocent.
The argument the people who demonstrated portrayed were that issues propped up by Acho Ihim led lawmakers were unsubstantiated, thereby seemed most frivolous and spurious.
Another loophole was that some of the petitioners are also members of Six-Man-Committee set up by the Speaker during a plenary session to investigate the allegations that were said to have constituted gross misconduct.
Among charges advanced by the legislators against Prince Madumere included abandonment from duty for the period of 90 days; not present during security and executive council meetings with the last allegation on imprisonment.
