The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere has been impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly. He was impeached by 19 out of the 27 members of the house in spite of a court order restraining them from doing so.

Speaker of the House, Acho Ihim said the impeachment was the outcome of a report of a seven-man panel constituted by the Chief Judge of the state to investigate allegations of gross misconduct and abandonment of office by the Deputy Governor.

The Imo State High Court  had on this Monday restrained the State House of Assembly from taking any further action in the impeachment process initiated against  Prince Eze Madumere.

Delivering that judgment, Justice Ben Iheka  ordered the panel set up by the Chief Judge, Paschal Nnadi, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Acho Ihim and the State House of Assembly to halt the impeachment proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by Madumere.

Justice Iheka also directed the three-member panel set up to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against  Madumere by the State House of Assembly to be served the motion for interlocutory injunction to respect the suit which is before the court.

Counsel to the deputy governor, Ken Njemanze (SAN) told the court that his client was ready and prepared to allow his impeachment process to be determined by the court, adding that Madumere was relying on the court to dispense justice in the matter which bordered on the person and the office which he occupies.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Militus Nlemadim (SAN) argued that he was opposing the plaintiff’s request for the court to grant an interim order as sought by his colleague.

Nlemadim maintained that instead of an interim order, there should have been an accelerated hearing as according to him, the duties of the panel had already been spelled out by the Constitution.

After entertaining arguments from both counsels, Justice Iheka granted the request made by counsel to Madumere and adjourned the case till August 13, 2018.