Court Discontinues The Swearing-in Of New Deputy Governor In Imo

Mr Eze Madumere (Photo Credit: The Nation)

Mr Miletus Nlemedim, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has, through his announcement, placed on hold the swearing-in of Mr Calistus Ekenze as new Deputy Governor of Imo on Tuesday.

The swearing-in ceremony was canceled by the declaration of Nlemedim shortly before the beginning of the ceremony, in the Government House where guests, including the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Pascal Nnadi and the deputy governor-designate were already seated.

Nlemedim made reference to the interim order by an Imo High Court, presided over by Justice Ben Iheka on Monday to discontinue the impeachment move by the Imo State House of Assembly against the Deputy governor, Mr Eze Madumere.

He added that the swearing-in of the Head of Service of the state Ekenze, is also affected by the order.

“The governor nominated Mr Callistus Ekenze as deputy governor and that nomination was approved unanimously by the state House of Assembly.

“We came here today for the swearing-in but our attention has been drawn to an interim order stopping the Chief Judge from performing this ceremony.

“We have quickly taken the necessary steps to vacate that order and that will be concluded in a very short time.

“We shall for now shift the swearing-in in obedience to the order of court,” Nlemedim said.

Based on the application by Madumere through his lawyer to shop the impeachment process initiated against him by the state Assembly, Justice Ben Iheka of the state High Court, gave an order suspending the process of impeachment of Madumere and for maintenance of status quo pending the hearing of the substantive matter.

In the same vain, the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo said that the swearing-in would not hold due to the court order restraining the Chief Judge of the state from carrying out the ceremony.

“The governor had insisted that the interim order be obeyed not minding some issues raised by senior lawyers in the government against the order.

“He insisted that his administration must continue to obey valid court orders served on the government or agents of the government,” the statement said.

Naija News recalls that 19 members out of the 29 members of the Imo State House of Assembly sacked the Deputy Governor, Mr Eze Madumere, following submission on Friday, of the report of the panel that investigated allegations against him.