By Tochi Onyeubi and Okey Alozie
All has not been well in the office of the Governor of Imo State since Tuesday’s court judgment nullifying the impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere by members of the Imo State House of Assembly.
On Tuesday, a High Court in Owerri presided by Justice Benjamin Iheaka while ruling on the matter, declared Madumere’s impeachment as null and void.
The court decision Trumpeta was informed has sent shocking waves to Governor Rochas Okorocha who is said not to have recovered from the judgment. An indication that Government House, Owerri is still in shock emerged yesterday as it took Okorocha.
Trumpeta learnt that the governor was seriously taken aback when the news filtered into his ears that Madumere has been given a clean bill of health to return as his second in command.
Another signed that the judgment didn’t go down well with Okorocha emerged in the opening paragraphs of a press statement written on his behalf by the Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemedo.
Onwuemedo confessed that Okorocha withheld reaction to the judgment, ostensibly out of shock. The statement reads “we had withheld reaction to that judgment because we needed to read it and acquaint ourselves with the crux of the judgment.
Furthers indications was when the Governor took on Madumere by describing him as a confused politician who doesn’t know what he want, it read, “The fact remains that Prince Madumere is confused. He does not know what he wants. He signed the statement as Deputy Governor and at the same time, parading himself as Governorship Aspirant on the platform of APC and of course, about 48 hours to the party’s primary for governorship”. The Government however added that is appealing against the judgment.
Meanwhile, Madumere yesterday, reported to office. When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr Uche Onwuchekwa confirmed in a text message that the number two citizen of Imo State has resumed.
Trumpeta recalls that few hours after impeachment was handed to Madumere on July 30th, 2018, security operatives and government agents prevented the Deputy Governor from having access to his office and residence in commissioners’ quarters in Owerri.
More so, he was barred from attending government functions in his capacity as the number two citizen of the state.
While openly declaring to run for Governor in 2019 after the court ruling, in his campaign office along Okigwe road before a crowd of cheering supporters, Madumere stated that his only offence was his rejection of injustice and impunity because he stood to contest for the governorship position. Thanking Imolites and some political stakeholders who he saluted their courage in standing up for the truth, despite intimidation, Prince Madumere in his solemn declaration, promised to change the narratives of governance in Imo, through giving the civil service, educational system and health care sector the boost it requires as well as massive industrialization which would give room to job creation and focus on women development, welfare policies and respect to the rule of law.
In a related development, the fate of Deputy Governor Designate, Ekenze hangs in the balance, following the outcome of the court judgment. Ekenze, until his recent nomination was the Head of Service of the State. Sources disclosed that he has allegedly resigned and bears the name Deputy Governor Designate awaiting swearing in to be confirmed the new number two citizen of Imo State.
With the court partially sealing his chances of entering the records book of Imo as the Deputy Governor, Ekenze may be at crossroads by losing the Head of Service position he resigned to accept Deputy Governor nomination and yet to be sworn in due to court encumbrances.
The court on Tuesday in Judgment contained in suit number HOW/565/2018 nullified the impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere on the grounds of it not following due process.
The trial judge, Justice Iheaka Benjamin noted that the seven member panel that investigated the allegation against Prince Madumere, was not in compliance with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The court also restrained the panelists from investigating or continuing to investigate the allegations made by the 9th and 10th defendants against the plantiff or sitting or continuing to sit or make findings or continuing to make findings against the plantiff.
The court further upheld the submission of the plantiff’s counsel, Prince Ken Njemanze, SAN, that it was unconstitutional for the Chief Judge to have constituted the panel during the pendency of the suit in respect of the validity of the 10th defendants motion and 9th defendant to constitute the said panel.
When contacted, the Chief Law Officer of the state, Hon Barr Miletus Nlemadim disclosed that the Rescue Mission team already has resolved to go to Appeal Court for redress. In his words, “we shall appeal against the judgment with strong grounds, the decision of the High Court is erroneous and runs against section 188(10) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which oufes the jurisdiction of the court of law in impeachment proceedings by all legal standard” he said.
