The impeached Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere through his media aide, Uche Onwuchekwa has said his removal was in defiance to the ruling of a state High Court presided over by Justice Ben Iheka on July 30, restraining the legislators and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Paschal Nnadi, from any further moves regarding the impeachment process.
Madumere was on Monday impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct.
In his reaction in a statement by his media aide, Madumere described his removal from office as illegal, saying neither the state House of Assembly nor the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Paschal Nnadi, invited him to any of their sittings.
He stated that the State House of Assembly was being used as a willing tool in the hands of the governor for political witch hunting.
The statement reads: “The state house of Assembly has become a mere stooge in the hands of the governor.
“In disobedience to the restraining order against the the Chief Judge, the seven-man panel, Speaker and members of Imo State House of Assembly from further action on the controversial impeachment proceeding against the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, the House of Assembly in Gestapo manner, has removed the Deputy Governor of the state from office.
“The Presiding Judge of High Court 8, Justice Benjamin Iheka had restrained the seven-man panel of Inquiry constituted by the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi, the Chief Judge, Speaker and members of Imo State House of Assembly over a matter brought before the court that bothers on constitutional breaches in the procedure adopted to remove the Deputy Governor from the office.
“The Acho Ihim-led faction of the members of the House sponsored by Governor Okorocha against the Court Order and the rule of law illegally removed the Deputy Governor in a kangaroo manner.
“Against the requirement of the law, Prince Madumere was not given fair hearing as he was neither invited during the sitting of the investigative committee in the House of Assembly nor by the seven-man panel set up the Chief Judge.”
