Impeachment: Okorocha reacts to court ruling stopping swearing-in of new deputy governor

macfranc007 August 01, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 David Oladele

- Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state has reacted to the court order stopping him from swearing in a new deputy governor

- Governor Okorocha declared that he would respect the court order

- The governor, however, called on his party members to remain law abiding

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday, July 1, declared that he would respect the court order stopping the swearing in of the new deputy governor, Calistus Ekenze.

Vanguard reports that this was contained in a statement by Okorocha’s chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo in Owerri.

The statement read: “The Scheduled swearing-in of the new deputy-governor of the state, Calistus Ekenze, on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 by 9am, could not take place again following the directive by the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha that the Interim Court Order restraining the Chief Judge of the State from carrying out the exercise be fully obeyed.

“The venue of the Scheduled Swearing-in, the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chamber was full to the brim by guests including Senior government functionaries and APC leaders in the State when the governor’s directive came through the attorney-general of the state, Barr. M.O. Nlemedim in respect of the court Order.

“The governor had insisted that the interim Order be obeyed not minding some issues raised by Senior Lawyers in the government against the Order, insisting that his administration must continue to obey valid Court Orders and also served on the government or agents of the government.

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“It should be recalled that the nineteen (19) members of the state House of Assembly had on Monday, July 30, 2018 impeached the former Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere following the submission last Friday, of the report of the Panel that investigated the accusations against him.

“It should also be recalled that the deputy-governor had earlier got an order against the impeachment process, on July 5, 2018 by a state high court, but the order was vacated and described as a“nullity” by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja presided over by Justice O.A Musa on July 16, 2018.

“The governor has urged all Imo people and all the Parties in the matter to remain law-abiding and allow the law to take its course.”

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that a high court in Owerri, Imo state stopped the swearing-in of Calistus Ekenze as the new deputy governor of the state.

The court ruling came in on Tuesday morning, July 31, just as Ekenze was about to be sworn in. The ceremony took place at the Sam Mbakwe expanded Exco Chambers of the Government House in Owerri, the state capital.

The attorney-general of the state, Miletus Nlemadim, informed those gathered for the ceremony about the ruling which stopped the process.

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