Imo Deputy Governor,  Eze Madumere impeached, Ekenze steps in.

The Imo State Deputy Governor was impeached by 19 members out of the 27 members of the house of assembly.

The motion which was moved by the Majority leader of the House, Mr. Lugard Osuji and was seconded by the Member Representing Owerri North Constituency Mr. Chukwuemeka Llyod

Majority leader of Imo House of Assembly, Mr. Lugard Osuji

The Speaker Acho Ihim says the impeachment followed the indictment of the report of the 7-man panel constituted by the Chief Judge of the state to investigate allegations of gross misconduct.

The allegation of gross misconduct is premised on 4 reasons which included absence without reasons for a period of 3 months, failure to perform constitutional duties like attending state exco and state security council, failure to attend meetings with the Governor and other government functionaries and concealment of felonious act in the United States.

Governor Rochas Okorocha and Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere when the going was smooth

Meanwhile, the house also unveiled the New Deputy Governor to be Mr. Callistus Ekenze, a former head of Service in the State.

                                                          Ex-Imo Deputy Governor

Mr. Callistus Ekenze

The House went into recess to resume on the 12 of September 2018

It would be recalled that earlier 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 were yet to be served the motion for 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.