Falana Hails Judiciary For Stopping Swearing-In Of Ekenze As New Imo Deputy Governor

Okorocha Encouraged The Distortion Of Law By Legislators

Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), human rights lawyer, on Tuesday, hailed the Imo State judiciary for upholding the rule of law by stopping the swearing-in of the new deputy governor in the state.

The Imo State House of Assembly had defied the court order, which restrained them from impeaching Eze Madumere as the Deputy Governor of the state. The State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, had nominated Calistus Ekenze as a replacement.

Justice Paschal Nnadi, the Chief Judge of the state, stopped the request of the governor to swear in a new deputy governor.

Falana said, “A few days ago, Honourable Justice Ben Iheka of the Imo State High Court granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the impeachment panel constituted by the Chief Judge of Imo State, the Honourable Justice Padcal Nnadi, from entertaining the allegations against Prince Ezeakonobi Madumere, the Deputy Governor of Imo State.

“In a demonstration of brazen contempt of court, the House of Assembly ignored the valid and subsisting court order and hurriedly passed a resolution for the purported impeachment of Prince Madumere as Deputy Governor of Imo State.

“Instead of calling the legislators to order by asking them to purge themselves of contempt of court Governor Okorocha announced Mr. Calistus Ekenze as the new Deputy Governor.

“Governor Rochas Okorocha directed the Chief Judge of Imo State to swear in the so-called new Deputy Governor.

“In a historic solidarity with the Chief Judge, all the other Judges in High Court of Imo State have resolved not to lend judicial weight to the subversion of the rule of law by the legislative and executive organs of the Imo State Government.”

Falana, while commending the Imo State judiciary, called on the Nigerian Bar Association to ensure the order of the Chief Judge of the state was complied with.

He said, “While commending the Imo State judiciary for upholding the basic tenet of the rule of law we call on the Nigerian Bar Association and all democratic forces in the country to ensure that the order of the Chief Judge is fully complied with.

“Let the legislators and Governor Okorocha purge themselves of contempt of court by continuing to recognise Prince Madumere as the Deputy Governor of Imo State pending the determination of the pending suit before the State High Court on the validity of the impeachment proceedings adopted by the House of Assembly of Imo State.