At last, the plot of the members of the Imo State House of Assembly to remove the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere has been finally executed.
In what the lawmakers made up of APC members called Special Sitting on Monday, 19 , House members, irrespective of an earlier court order barring the 7-man committee to sit and submit their report, endorsed Madumere’s impeachment as the State Head of Service ,Mr Callistus Ekenze has been confirmed the new Deputy Governor of the State.
The drama of the impeachment continued later on Monday after an Owerri High Court in an earlier judgment halted the impeachment process.
Amidst heavy security cordon mounted in the complex, the members who had earlier met with authorities in the State moved into the complex in a jiffy. Journalists and visitors were banned from entry into the chamber to witness the proceeding.
At the committee of the whole, the report of the seven-men committee which states that evidences before then showed that Madumere is culpable for removal on the allegation of failing to discharge his responsibilities for 90 days.
According to committee report, he allegedly absented on 1st, 3rd, 24th February 13, 22nd and 29th March as well as that of April 6 and 18th.
On the allegation of ex-convict, the committee report only mentioned one Uche Madumere as one.
The majority leader moved motion for impeachment citing relevant sections of the constitution warning their council, while it was seconded by Ikonne Onyewuchi, of Owerri West.
However, a tinge drama occurred when the speaker who showed ignorance of the process of impeachment stated that “I hereby impeach the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere” after hitting the gavel, without observing other rules required it was notice from other lawmakers who informed him that a voting process is required to complete the impeachment. 19 lawmakers present voted for the impeachment.
Trumpeta learnt that the 7-man set up by the Chief Judge while submitting report claimed the removed Madumere was invited on two occasions in July without a response even as information has it that the quick action of the House was to averse service of the outcome of the ruling today which stopped the committee from further proceedings and adjourned till August 13, 2018 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, the embattled Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, made a public appearance in the State capital yesterday since members of the Imo State House of Assembly commenced impeachment processes against him.
Madumere who about a month ago entered into trouble when the lawmakers commenced removal processes was spotted at the High Court premises, Owerri for the matter against his impeachment.
Spotting a white safari suit and accompanied by aides, friends and political associates, the Deputy Governor who was radiating with smiles and acknowledged cheers from teeming supporters monitored the court proceedings.
It would be recalled that Madumere, through his counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN) went to court to stop the Chief Judge of the State, Chief Justice Paschal Nnadi from raising a 7-man committee, as directed by the House for the impeachment process to be completed.
According to Njemanze, (SAN) the act of constituting the panel was illegal and therefore the validity of the panel is a nullity.
The trial judge while ruling on interlocutory injunction stopped the 7-man impeachment from sitting. The case was adjourned to 13th of August 2018 for accelerated hearing.
Since the impeachment brouhaha commenced, Madumere had carefully avoided public appearance prompting the House to opt for substituted service to notify him of the impeachment.
Apart from the present case, two matters challenging the action of the lawmakers are in court before the latest ruling asking the committee raised by the Chief Judge not to sit.
Meanwhile, Madumere has disclosed that despite his travails, there is no plan to ditch APC for another party.
In an interview he granted our correspondent, Okey Alozie in Owerri, the Madumere has disclosed that he has no plans for now to join the opposition party contrary to a publication recently in a local tabloid that he will soon declare his support and commitment to All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA, to get his ambition in 2019 general election.
According to him, APC remains the ruling party and the strongest in Nigeria, adding that there is no cause for alarm this time around. He maintained that he is still part of Imo APC and there is no doubt about that. Madumere urged Imolites to continue to support APC at all level and shun the activities of the opposition group who are spreading false rumour to destabilize the party at all cost. He described the rumour of his decamping to another party as a calculated attempt by his political detractors to course confusion and crisis.
In a related development, a career civil servant, Mr Callistus Ekenze has been confirmed Madumere’s replaced. Ekenze, from Mbaitoli, same as Madumere before now was the Head of Service of Imo State Government.
Ekenze’s nomination was made public moments after Madumere’s impeachment and the lawmakers immediately confirmed him.
