Imo assembly defies court order, impeaches Dep. Gov

Despite an order by the Imo State High Court restraining the panel set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Pascal Nnadi, and some principal officers of the Imo state assembly from taking any further action in the impeachment process of the state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, majority of the members on Monday voted for the impeachment of Madumere.

National Daily gathered that nineteen of the 27 lawmakers in the assembly voted in favour of the impeachment of Madumere at plenary on Monday.

Recall that earlier on Monday, the Imo State High Court restrained 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 of the state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, 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 Ben Iheka of of the Imo High Court 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.

Counsel to the Deputy Governor, Ken Njemanze (SAN), told the court that his client was ready and prepared to allow his impeachment process to be determined by the court.

He said that his client was relying on the court to dispense justice in the matter which bordered on the person and office of the state’s Number Two citizen.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Militus Nlemadim (SAN), said he was opposing the plaintiff’s request for the court to grant an interim order as sought by his colleague.

Nlemadim said that instead of an interim order, there should be an accelerated hearing, stressing that the duty of the panel had already been spelled out by the Constitution.

After hearing from the counsel, the court granted the request made by counsel to the embattled deputy governor and adjourned till August 13.

However, same day, nineteen of the 27 members of the assembly voted for Madumere impeachment despite the restraining order.