Following the difficulty in locating the whereabout of some of the members of the seven man panel constituted to investigate the embattled Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, tongues have began to wag if they personalities really exist.
The question arose from the disappearance act of members of the panel as they could not be reached to be served Court Order from an Owerri High Court.
The Judge handling the matter instituted by Prince Madumere stopping the Imo State House of Assembly from impeaching him, Justice BC Iheaka, had ordered the appearance the members of the panel, but it has not been easy to locate them.
They include Nze Saba Nze, Charles Okoro, Bath N Opara, Mr Chika Anosike, Mr Nwokona Chidozie, Mrs Olivia Nwanekezi and Amadi Chidinma.
In the last sitting, the case could not commence as the Defendants were not in Court, citing non service of motion as the reason.
However, the Judge ordered that the men must appear in Court next sitting as the counsel to the Deputy Governor, Ken Njemanze (SAN) argued that the non appearance of the men was frustrating the case.
However, a source to the office of the Imo State Chief Judge who spoke under strictly anonymity declared that the seven Men-Panel exist with authentic identities and therefore the issue of raising concern should not arise.
In a related development, the legal battle between Prince Eze Madumere and Imo State government rages on, Trumpeta Newspaper has been rated high by the High court judge handling the case, Hon. Justice B.C Iheka for the paper’s dominance of Imo news space and wide circulation in the state and beyond.
Trumpeta has followed the case from its outset and has not failed in supplying the public with informed news and analysis, as well as coverage of other news worthy events in the state and across the nation.
The judge while ordering that the defendant in the case be served through substituted means, which newspaper publication is one, demanded that Trumpeta must be one of them. This made Trumpeta the only Newspaper the judge mentioned in the order.
“Upon reading through the motion Exparte for substituted service dated and filed on the 13th day of August 2018, the supporting Affidavit deposed thereto and written address of the counsel.
“And after hearing K.C.O Njemanze(SAN) with N.J.C Chijioke of the counsel to the plaintiff/Applicant.
“It is ordered as follows: Leave is granted to the Applicant as plaintiff in this suit No HOW/565/2018 to effect service of the motion on notice dated 31/7/2018 and filed on 1/8/2018 on the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th defendants in this suit by substituted means, namely: by publication of same in three newspapers including Trumpeta Newspaper with wide circulation in Imo State and Nigeria”, the order read.
