..Commutes Impeachment Against Him Into Resignation
By Onyekachi Eze
It may not be out of place to state that the Member representing Onuimo State Constituency at the Imo State House of Assembly, and former Speaker of the 9th House, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem is the happiest man on earth over the Legislative pardon towards him.
This was even though he lost his chances to return to the 10th House for a second term missionary journey.
Emeziem was sometime in November 2021 impeached by the House after a failed attempt to remove the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu.
The outcome of that exercise didn’t end well as both Emeziem and two others were served with immediate suspension.
His was tougher as he received an impeachment hammer over acts termed as unparliamentary conduct.
Months later, his suspension ban was lifted after a show of remorse as reported by the House Leadership.
However, barely one month to say goodbye to the 9th Legislative House of Imo State, the Lawmakers have pardoned him and asked that he end the session in a happy mood just like others.
At the last plenary session of Thursday May 4, 2023, through a motion moved by the Okigwe Lawmaker, Hon. Samuel Chidiebere Ogbunikpa, and Co-sponsored by Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, Rt. Hon. Chyna Amara Iwuanyanwu, Hon. Kanayo Onyemachi, and Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri, appealed to the House to show mercy to the former Speaker by changing the impeachment clause to resignation.
The motion reads, ” An appeal for a grant of pardon and commuting the impeachment of Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem to resignation”.
“Whereas this Hon. House has decided to foster peace and to create harmonious relationship for better legislative work to move the State forward;
“Recalling that Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem was affected in one of the matters
which culminated to his impeachment as the Speaker of this House;
“Noting that the 9th House of Imo State House of Assembly is winding down
to give way to the 10th House and there is need for Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem’s
record to be cleared”.
After Members contributions and in agreement that pardon be granted on the Onuimo Lawmaker as contained in the prayers of motion resolved as follows,
“To grant pardon to Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem and commute the impeachment against him to resignation. “To also expunge the word impeachment from the records of Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem”.
Meanwhile, shortly after the plenary session before the House Correspondents, Rt. Hon. Emeziem’s face beamed with laughter and inner joy which may not be unconnected to the resolutions of the House towards him.
