The Owerri High Court on Tuesday says the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Imo state, Eze Madumere, is invalid and of no legal effect.
In reading the judgment which lasted for three hours, the justice flayed the Chief Judge of the state, Paschal Nnadi and the Attorney General of the state, Militus Nlemadim for not adhering to the provisions of section 188(5) of the 1999 constitution as amended in the impeachment of Madumere on July 31, 2018.
The jurist contended that the CJ constituted the seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct by Madumere by the state House of Assembly outside the seven days lifeline as provided by the constitution.
Madumere, who is seeking to replace Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2019, was impeached by 19 of the 27 members of the Imo State House of Assembly.
Impeachment proceedings against him kicked off on July 10, when Ugonna Ozuruigbo, the Deputy Speaker, moved a motion accusing him of abandoning his duties and failing to carry out official duties assigned to him by the Governor, among others.
Governor Rochas Okorocha, last week championed son-in-law Uche Nwosu as APC’s “best candidate” for governor of Imo, brushing aside suggestions he is not qualified.
According to him, none of the aspirants seeking to succeed him is better than his son-in-law.
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