Court stops inauguration of new Imo deputy gov
The inauguration of Imo State Head of Service, Mr Callistus Ekenze, as the new deputy governor of the state was aborted yesterday following an order of an Owerri High Court.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Pascal Nnadi, could not go ahead with the anticipated swearing in of Mr Ekenze who became deputy governor on Monday following the impeachment of Prince Eze Madumere by the state House of Assembly.
The Sam Mbakwe Hall venue of the event was already filled with guests, including Governor Rochas Okorocha and other government functionaries, when the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Militus Nlemadium, walked in and told the audience that the event could no longer hold.
He said there was a court order made by the Owerri High Court the day before stopping the CJ from swearing in the deputy governor designate.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, confirmed the development in a statement.
“The governor had insisted that the interim order be obeyed not minding some issues raised by senior lawyers in the government against the order, insisting that his administration must continue to obey valid court orders,” the statement said.
Nineteen members of the state House of Assembly had on Monday impeached Prince Madumere following the submission of the report of the panel that investigated some accusations leveled against him.
Madumere immediately filed a suit at the high court in Owerri challenging his impeachment.