Imo Deputy Governor Impeached, Madumere Replaces Him

The members of the Imo State Assembly today voted overwhelmingly to impeach the state’s deputy governor, Jude Agbaso. A correspondent of SaharaReporters disclosed that 25 out of 26 state legislators voted for Mr. Agbaso’s impeachment.

Related Article: Okorocha Nominates Madumere as New Deputy Governor

Following the impeachment, the state governor appointed Chris Madumere. The embattled former deputy governor was accused of acts of grave corruption, including the demand of a bribe of more than N400 million from a contractor.

Mr. Agbaso had filed a suit asking a high court judge to bar the legislators from acting to impeach him, arguing that he was a victim of political intrigue and blackmail. The court refused to intervene, leaving the room open for the law makers to send Mr. Agbaso packing.

Shortly after now Governor Rochas Okorocha chose Mr. Agbaso as his running mate, SaharaReporters had reported that Mr. Agbaso was a fugitive from justice in the United States where he was indicted for fraud. After his installation as deputy governor, Mr. Agbaso hired an attorney who arranged a deal to resolve his indictment.

The terms of that resolution were not made public. A top political figure in Imo State told SaharaReporters that, even though the impeached deputy governor was corrupt, “that was not the real reason he got into trouble.”

The source disclosed that political differences between Mr. Okorocha and Mr. Agbaso accounted for the latter’s impeachment. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Madumere had served as the chief of staff to Governor Okorocha.

Source: Legit.ng