Despite court order, Imo Assembly impeaches Madumere

The deputy governor of Imo state, Prince Eze Madumere, has been impeached by the state lawmakers amidst tight security At an emergency sitting held at hallow chamber of the House of Assembly on Monday with 19 members in attendance, the Majority Leader, Hon Luguard Osuji moved the motion for adoption of the panel report submitted by Nze Saba Nze-led committee.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Pascal Nnadi, last week set up a seven-man panel of enquiry to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Madumere.

But an Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Benjamin Iheaka on Monday granted an interim injunction restraining the seven -man panel of enquiry from sitting until matter before the court is determined.

Earlier, the lawyer to the impeached deputy governor, Prince Ken Njemanze (SAN) had filed a motion on the cinstitutional breaches by the panel and the state lawmakers.

Prince Madumere had a running battle with his boss , Governor Rochas Okorocha over succession bid in 2019. Okorocha favouered his son-in-law and Chief of staff Mr Uche Nwosu to succeed him.

The impeached deputy governor opposed the move and pitched his tent with the coalition forces who had earlier opposed the state governor proposal to allow his son-in-law to take over from him in 2019, having come the same zone (Orly zone)

Meanwhile Journalists were barred from entering into the Chamber of the House during the sitting except electronic media and hand-picked House correspondents. It was gathered that the Head of Service has been tipped to take over from Madumere.