The Fear of the Of the National Judicial Council(NJC) Forced The Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha to Suspend the Swearing In of the Newly Appointed Deputy Governor Mr Calistus Ekenze
The Imo State House of Assembly had on Monday impeached the Deputy Governor, Mr Eze Madumere in Flagrant Disobedience to the Court Order Barring the Assembly from going ahead with the Impeachment.
Justice Ben Iheka had stopped 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 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.
The court adjourned hearing of the case till August 13.
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 and abandonment of office by the Deputy Governor.
Following the impeachment, the state House of Assembly confirmed Mr Calistus Ekenze as the replacement of Madumere.
The confirmation was after the Majority leader of the House, Mr. Lugard Osuji, moved the motion for the adoption of Ekenze, as Madumere’s replacement.
But a Source at the Imo State High Court Complex in Owerri told PUO REPORTS that the Chief Judge and some other Senior Judges in the State refused to perform the Inauguration after receiving the Court Order Yesterday over the fear of the action National Judicial Council should the Chief Judge Disobey the Order.
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha after several Advice accepted to obey the order which was made Yesterday against the House of Assembly even before the Impeachment of the Deputy Governor.
