Court grants prayer to stop impeachment process of Imo deputy governor
- All parties involved in the impeachment process of the deputy governor of Imo state, Eze Madumere, have been ordered to maintain status quo
- The court ruled that the speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly and the chief judge of the state will be served by substitution
- The order was given by a highcourt sitting in Abuja on Thursday, July 12
A high court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, July 12, granted a prayer seeking to stop the impeachment process of the deputy governor of Imo state, Eze Madumere.
The application which was made by one Stanley Okwara pleaded that the speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, the chief judge of the state and five other defendants on the matter be served with court summons.
Ruling on the matter, the judge, Justice Ahmed granted a different request made by the counsel's plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, that the defendants be served by substituted means or by a registered courier service outside the jurisdiction of the court.
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Justice Ahmed further directed all parties involved in the impeachment matter to maintain status quo pending hearing of the motion on notice.
He said: "It appears to me that the issue before me is not impeachment itself or an action on impeachment. It is an application from the applicant, a legal practitioner from Imo state of Nigeria being afraid of the continuous infraction of the constitution by lawmakers in Imo state House of Assembly as argued in his address.
“I asked myself whether the said action could not be competently commenced in the high court of Imo state.
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"I must caution myself not to grant the orders sought in the motion ex-parte so as not to frustrate the smooth running of the Imo state House of Assembly, or restraining the Honourable Chief Judge of Imo state from exercising his constitutional duties.
“I must also state that the parties shall be served with the processes in this suit and the orders of this court and the law remains that same ties their hands as if an order has been made in law, as this court has inherent powers to set aside any step or steps taken after the service of this processes on the defendants, to foist a situation of helplessness on this court."
He also adjourned the matter to Tuesday, November 27, for further hearing.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Imo state House of Assembly began the impeachment process of the deputy governor of the state on Tuesday, July 10.
It was gathered that the impeachment process began after a growing tension between the deputy governor and the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.
The deputy governor was accused of gross misconduct of abandoning his duties and office as the state’s number two citizen for a long time.
Why Governors Steal? Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
