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Tag: impeachment

  • Impeachment: Senate lashes APC

    Impeachment: Senate lashes APC

    The Senate yesterday expressed surprise that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership made comments on “mere speculation and fabrication on a purported plan to impeach” President Muhammadu Buhari.

      A statement by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the comments credited to the National Secretary of the party, Mai Bala Buni, “on the falsehood being spread by SaharaReporters will merely give credibility to a news item which members of the public had disregarded, knowing the reputation of the source”.

     It said: “We expected the party to at least explore all the options open to it to verify that piece of fabrication which is only the figment of the imagination of the writers and their sponsors.

     “It should be clear to the APC leadership that if there is any truth to that story, it should have been credited to a particular Senator who was at the executive session.

    “It is evident from our proceedings of yesterday (Wednesday) that the Senate itself was shocked that such a fabrication which constitute a breach of the privileges of the Senators was published and that was why we mandated our committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the source and circumstances leading to the emergence of such a fabrication.

    “We will like to assure the party that the Senate as an institution values the present democracy in our country and will not do anything that will undermine or weaken the system.”

     

  • Pro-Saraki senators threaten Buhari with impeachment

    Pro-Saraki senators threaten Buhari with impeachment

    Melaye attacks Senator Tinubu

    Misau: The Executive should toe the path of dialogue or else the Senate will go for the jugular

    Unity Forum member: What is the meaning of the jugular? Tell us; we don’t know what you mean

    Misau: Impeachment, of course

    SOME senators are threatening to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In the plot, The Nation learnt, are senators loyal to Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu.

    They are angry that Saraki and Ekweremadu have been put on trial for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 (as amended), which they described as an “internal affair” of the Upper Chamber.

    They yesterday demanded the suspension of the senators who went to court on the alleged forgery of the Rules, having been fingered as those behind the travails of Saraki and Ekweremadu.

    They protested against the refusal of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), to appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on June 30.

    The aggrieved senators asked the chamber to issue a warrant of arrest against the AGF to compel him to appear before the Senate.

    They asked the Executive to choose between “dialogue and the jugular” which was later interpreted by a senator to mean “impeachment”.

    But members of the Unity Forum, who are opposed to Saraki’s and Ekweremadu’s leadership of the Senate, asked their colleagues to explore dialogue instead of nursing an impeachment move against the president.

    They said with the intervention of the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, it would be better to extend another invitation to Malami.

    The Nation learnt that the senators were at daggers drawn yesterday at their Executive Session.

    It was gathered that a brief by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, David Umar, sparked the tension.

    Umar explained how the AGF was summoned twice but he “ignored” the Senate committee, which he described as “disrespectful and an affront”.

    He said although Malami sent a Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution attached to the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, to represent him, that was rejected.

    After Umar briefing, tempers rose at the Executive Session over the alleged “contemptuous attitude of the AGF”.

    Senators Isa Misau, Dino Melaye, Jibrin Barau and Monsurat Sunmonu condemned the AGF’s attitude.

    They said it was obvious that “the Presidency is fighting the Senate with the disrespect for the chamber by the AGF”.

    A source quoted Misau as saying: “The Executive should toe the path of dialogue or else the Senate will go for the jugular.”

    A member of the Unity Forum asked: “What is the meaning of the jugular? Tell us; we don’t know what you mean.”

    An enraged Misau said: “Impeachment, of course.”

    Sen. Dino Melaye said: “the sacredness” of the Senate should be protected against “the recklessness” by some members of the Executive, such as the AGF.

    Melaye reportedly led the campaign for sanctions against the AGF, including a warrant of arrest because “Malami is not above the law”.

    Said a source: “Melaye did not mince words in demanding the suspension of all the senators behind the petition to the police and those who filed a suit in court on the Standing Rules 2015 (as amended).

    “And for no just cause, Melaye openly attacked Sen. Oluremi Tinubu who has earned the respect of most Senators.”

    The over one hour Executive session was said to have been reduced by Melaye to a session to rain abuses and unprintable words on Saraki’s perceived enemies.

    Another source said Melaye ignited uproar after Saraki told at the Executive session that he was taken to court when the Senate was on recess.

    The insider said immediately after Saraki’s explanation, Melaye demanded that those behind the petition should stand up and disown the petition or risk suspension.

    Melaye, it was said, insisted that Senator Kabiru Marafa and Senator Sulaiman Hunkuyi should be suspended if they failed to disown the petition and apologise to the Senate.

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu was said to have asked why Melaye should always be given the floor at every closed-session to threaten other Senators.

    The Lagos Central lawmaker was said to have reminded her colleagues that they all represent their various Senatorial Districts and that there was no reason for anybody to be threatened.

    At this point, Melaye was said to have unprintable words on Senator Tinubu.

    Not content with unrestrained insult he was said to have heaped on his colleague, the Kogi Senator was said to have sprang from his seat and was charging toward Senator Tinubu until he was blocked by some Senators.

    It was gathered that attempts to calm Maleye failed as he continued to call Senator Tinubu names.

    Some Senators were said to have blamed Saraki for Melaye’s behaviour.

    Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) was said to have referred the Senate to the Senator James Manager’s peace and reconciliation committee which recommended certain steps to achieve peace in the chamber.

    Another source said: “Apparently, some senators held a meeting on Monday and planned to suspend those who went to court on the emergence of Saraki and Ekweremadu.

    “The mood at the Executive Session made them to stay action because they knew it would not work at all. To get the number was a bit difficult for them.”

    Some of the senators in court are Suleiman Hunkuyi, Kabir Marafa, Abu Ibrahim, Ajayi Borrofice and Olugbenga Ashafa.

    According to investigation, intervention of Sen. Barnabas Gemade, who spoke with enormous wisdom, saved the day.

    Gemade said: “Instead of the Senate going for the jugular, we should look for ways of dialoguing on all the issues at hand.

    “We had earlier set up a committee on reconciliation in this chamber and I am aware the committee got to an appreciable level. Why can’t we resolve all other outstanding differences?”

    Based on Gemade’s “emotional” appeal, the Senate resolved to:

    • dismiss the impeachment advisory against Buhari and other drastic measures;
    • stay action on  suspension of some senators;
    • stop the planned issuance of a warrant of arrest against the AGF;
    • give the AGF another chance by re-inviting him to appear before the Senate Committee; and to
    • set up a committee headed by Sen. David Mark to resolve all outstanding differences among senators

    A senator said: “We were all happy that a former President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, will now head a committee to iron out all outstanding differences among senators.

    “Before we left the session, Senators also reconciled Sen. Tinubu and Dino Melaye. We said there was no basis for losing our cool when we have all worked together as a team.”

  • Pandemonium as 16 members impeach Edo speaker

    Pandemonium as 16 members impeach Edo speaker

    * Elects female speaker

    There was pandemonium at the Edo State House of Assembly Tuesday when thugs numbering about three hundred invaded the hallowed chamber shooting sporadically and in the process six persons were seriously wounded.

    Trouble started when Hon. Folly Ogedegbe the majority leader moved the motion for impeachment of the speaker, Hon. Victor Edoror and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bright Osayande.

    The motion which was seconded by Hon. Gani Audu representing Etsako West 1 reads in parts, “We the underlisted and undersigned Honourable Members representing the various constituencies in the Edo State House of Assembly have on this day 3rd of May 2016 have resolved to impeach our speaker, Hon. Chief Victor Edoror Tiger and the Deputy Speaker Hon. Osayande for acts of gross misconduct.

    Speaker ex-tempo Hon. Patrick Iluobe was appointed to preside the business of the day where the new speaker, Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie representing Uhuwode was appointed and Dr. Joseph Okonoboh
    representing Igueben was appointed as Deputy Speaker.

    Immediately the new speaker was sworn in, the impeached speaker and his deputy walked into the chamber in company of the thugs shooting sporadically to scare people out of the chambers, in the process a lot of peoples sustained various gun short.

    Addressing journalists immediately after the fracas, the new speaker Hon. Mrs. Ativie said the members can no longer tolerate the greedy nature of the speaker.

    She said the impeached speaker has up to six different financial cases with the EFCC and the members cannot continue to allow such indecent person to lead the House.

    She therefore said that five member committee headed by Kabiru Adjoto representing Akoko-Edo 1 will investigate the financial recklessness of the impeached speaker from June 2015 till May 3rd.

    She said if found wanting at the end of the three months when the committee will submit their report he will be handed over to the appropriate authority.

    Also speaking, Hon. Adjoto Kabiru said the impeached speaker is violently corrupt who have flair for eating government money just the way the red mouth squirrel has mouth for palm kernel as it is eating one, it is looking at another one that is how Edoror is.

    “As it is today, Edoror has a lot of EFCC case hanging on his neck, you media men can go and verify this we cannot afford to have a speaker that is been investigated by the EFCC because of his corrupt nature. As earlier mentioned by our new speaker, Edoror has a corrupt tendency that cannot be mentioned by one, enough is enough, that is why sixteen members of the house today signed impeachment notice against him. As we speak today, both APC and PDP members in the House signed impeachment notice against him”.

    Sixteen members signed the impeachment notice that circulated to journalists immediately after the house proceedings.

  • Ondo lawmakers reverse Speaker’s impeachment

    Ondo lawmakers reverse Speaker’s impeachment

    Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday reversed their decision on the removal of the Speaker, Ms. Jumoke Akindele and her deputy, Fatai Olotu.

    Eighteen of the 26 members on Tuesday night signed an impeachment notice at a lawmaker’s house in Alagbaka where they replaced Akindele with Iroju Ogundele (Odigbo) and her deputy with Ayodeji Arowele (Owo).

    The Assembly has 21 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and five All Progressives Congress (APC) members.

    The impeachment notice said: “Consequent upon the incompetence, highhandedness, drunkenness, easy virtue, lack of focus and lack of transparency, arrogance and poor leadership, we under signed elected members move for the impeachment of the Speaker and all the principal officers in the Ondo State Assembly with immediate effect.”

    The signatories include Arowele; Ogundeji; Oluyede Olishile; Akindiose Olusiji; Tuyi Akintimehin; Abayomi Akinruntan; Abimbola Fajolu; Olugbenga Araoyinbo; Olusegun Ajimotokin and Jamiu Slaimain.

    Others are Olusegun Felemi; Coker Adeniyi Malachi; Towose Kuti; M.O.S Kazeem, Obedidi Virant; Ade Adeniyi; Olumide George and Mukaila Musa.

    Fourteen are PDP members and four are APC members.

    They were reportedly angry because they have not been paid for some months; they have no official car and none lives in the official quarters.

    Sources said the action shocked Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    It was learnt that Mimiko immediately invited the lawmakers to a meeting on Tuesday night but it all ended in a deadlock as the two sides could not reach an agreement.

    Another meeting was said to have been called by the governor yesterday morning where it was gathered that the aggrieved lawmakers finally agreed to reverse the impeachment notice.

    A lawmaker was quoted to have said: “We will return Akindele as Speaker if you buy us cars and also provide quarters for us.”

    Their decision led to a briefing at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office.

    The Chairman, Committee on Information,  Olamide George, who was accompanied by Olusiji Akindiose, spoke for two minutes and reporters were prevented from asking questions.

    George said the House resolved that the status quo on the leadership as at March 7 should remain.

    He said the leadership of the House is its internal affair and has been treated as such.

    The lawmaker noted that the House remains united, cohesive and alive to its constitutional responsibilities.

    When our reporter visited the Assembly yesterday morning the gate was locked and mobile policemen were stationed with Armoured Personal Carriers (APCs) at the entrance.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the lawmakers for reversing their decision.

    The APC asked the people to recall the lawmakers, saying they have failed in protecting their interest and also encouraged corruption.

    The statement reads: “We hereby call on our people to recall these set of lawmakers as they have failed us by acting as puppets to the governor.

    “We were aware that the lawmakers had been caged and they have no courage to speak up on the challenges facing them and the people they represent.

    “Since they were sworn-in, none of them has official car, quarters except the Speaker and other principal officers.

    “They cannot complain because they are afraid of Mimiko’s sledge hammer.

    “If lawmakers cannot fight for things that will help them in their daily activities, how will such lawmakers fight for things that will benefit the masses?”

  • No plan to impeach Gov. Bello – Kogi PDP lawmakers

    No plan to impeach Gov. Bello – Kogi PDP lawmakers

    The members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Kogi State House of Assembly said they had no agenda to impeach the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

    The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Matthew Kolawole, said this during interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Kolawole said the concern of the members was to resolve the leadership crisis rocking the state assembly.

    “The state governor is just like new born baby without sin. For what reason will anybody want to kill the baby.

    “To me, the governor has not done anything wrong to us and none of us here is talking about impeachment of the governor at all,” he said.

    Kolawole said it was baseless to say Mr. James Faleke, the running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu in the Nov. 21 was sponsoring the crisis rocking the House.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Audu, who contested the election on the platform of APC, died on Nov.22 before the result of the election was announced.

    “If anybody is saying that Faleke is sponsoring us, he is misleading the public.

    Faleke is not part of this struggle.

    “The struggle we have today is that we want to stabilise Kogi State House of Assembly as an independent arm of government,” he said.

    On outcome of members’ meeting with the National Chairman of PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, he said they agreed with the party’s directive that the status quo should remain.

    “We have passed another vote of confidence on the leadership of the House under Speaker Momoh Jimoh-Lawal and all of us have signed.”

    He added that Mr John Aba, one of the five members who had the intention to impeach Jimoh-Lawal was also present at the meeting.

    He, however, said that Aba was yet to sign the resolution of the meeting adding that he stepped out after the meeting.

    “So far so good, eleven of us here have signed. We are waiting for him to come back because the party has directed that we sign and he agreed.”

    The majority leader said that maintaining status quo under the leadership of Jimoh-Lawal was temporary in order to resolve the crisis on ground.

    He was optimistic that the House could not be rubber-stamped for allowing the Speaker and governor to come from the same zone of the state pending the time a new speaker would be elected.

    According to Kolawole, even if Jimoh-Lawal resigns, the onus lies on the House to unanimously agree on the new speaker that will pilot the affairs of the House.

  • Five-member Kogi assembly impeach speaker

    The crisis rocking the Kogi State House of Assembly Tuesday took another turn as the Speaker, Momohjimoh Lawal was removed by his former supporters.

    Coming out of the assembly chambers, Hon. Friday Sani who emerged as the new Majority Leader and announced that the new speaker, Hon. Imam Umar, representing Lokoja 1 constituency was elected in replacement by ’15 members’ of the house, though only four other lawmakers were sighted earlier coming out from the assembly chambers.

    According to him others elected were Hon. John Abba, Chief Whip while the position of the Deputy Speaker was left vacant.

    Lawal has however said that he remains the speaker, declaring his impeachment as null and void.

    Sani who addressed anxious reporters at the end of their closed door session said laid down procedure was followed in the process.

    He said that the impeached speaker has not demonstrated the capacity to lead the house.

    He said the house has followed due process to remove the speaker, saying that 15 members signed the impeachment notice, while only seven was required to form quorum to remove the principal officers.

    He added: “With the Court of Appeal ruling which sacked five of our members, reducing it to 20, only seven members are required to form quorum and we have more than that”.

    The embattled Momohjimoh Lawal said that he remains speaker, when he addressed journalists in his house at the Assembly quarters.

    He said 15 out of the 20 members of the house passed a vote of confidence on him this morning (Tuesday).

    He said the assembly will reconvene today from recess, adding that no one can issue proclamation aside him.

  • Appeal Court nullifies impeachment of Nyako

    The Yola Division of Federal Court of Appeal on Thursday declared the impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa as unconstitutional, null and void.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Adamawa House of Assembly had on July 16, 2014, impeached and removed Nyako for gross misconduct.

    In a unanimous judgment by the five justices of the Court of Appeal, the court said the impeachment was not done in accordance with the provisions of the law as the governor was not served the impeachment notice personally.

    In the lead judgment read by Justice Tunde Ayotoye, the judges agreed that Nyako was not given fair hearing.

    The court ordered that Nyako be accorded all rights of the Office of the Governor of Adamawa through the period and paid all his entitlements as governor while it lasted.

    The court, however, struck out the appeal by Nyako to be returned as governor of the state as his tenure as governor had elapsed.

  • Call for Buhari’s impeachment: We won’t succumb to blackmail, APC replies PDP

    Call for Buhari’s impeachment: We won’t succumb to blackmail, APC replies PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC)  said yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was desperately working to divert attention from the ongoing corruption investigation, saying the Buhari led APC government will not succumb to any blackmail big the opposition.

    The party said the call fake the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari and the resignation of two of the cabinet ministers as well as the governor of the Central Bank was laughable.

    National Secretary of the party Alhaji Mai Mala Buni reminded the PDP that Nigeria was a country governed by law and not a banana republic, pointing out that the statement by the PDP constitute a distraction to the National Assembly.

    The APC scribe however said in a statement made available to The Nation that it was confident that the National Assembly will not be distracted by anybody, while the Buhari government will not be intimidated into abandoning the anti corruption war.

    The statement read: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to Thursday’s comical statement credited to the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Uche Secondus calling for the removal of President Muhammadu Buhari, resignation of two ministers and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by the National Assembly.

    “The APC wishes to remind the PDP that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic, but a country governed by laws. It is confusing and worrisome that the PDP calls for an investigation into the budget issue and at the same time calls for the removal and resignation of the aforementioned.

    “In both content and context, PDP’s statement constitute a distraction to the National Assembly.

    “The APC is confident that the 8th National Assembly will not be distracted by the PDP in its new desperate plot to divert attention from the ongoing investigation into mind-boggling cases of corruption perpetuated under its defunct 16-year rule.

    “Nigerians are still shocked and recovering from the wanton looting perpetuated in the last 16 years under the PDP.  We invite the PDP to supports current efforts aimed at social, economic and institutional reforms.”

  • Lagos Assembly invalidates Pedro’s impeachment

    Lagos Assembly invalidates Pedro’s impeachment

    The Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary Thursday invalidated the impeachment of former Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Femi Pedro.

    This resolution followed the adoption of the recommendation of the eight member Ad Hoc Committee constituted on July 2, to review the circumstances that led to impeachment of Pedro.

    The House, which passed a vote of confidence on Pedro, said that the allegations of his impeachment were not connected to criminal charges.

    The committee, headed by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, in its report said:

    “In line with Rule 51 (6) of the Business, Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the committee recommends that this House should by a substantive motion review the impeachment passed on Otunba Femi Pedro on Thursday May 10, 2007 by the 5th Assembly.

    “Pardon him and pass a vote of confidence on him as a fit and proper person that can be entrusted with political and administrative responsibilities.”

    36 members of the House were in support of the pardon while only one lawmaker voted against it and another abstained.

    It will be recalled that Pedro was impeached towards the end the tenure of Bola Tinubu as Governor for gross misconducts on May 10, 2007.

    The ex-deputy governor had urged the House to revisit his impeachment in a letter sent to the 8th Assembly on compassionate ground.

    In his contribution, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, the Chairman House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, urged the Assembly to reverse the impeachment for the ex-deputy governor to live a normal life.

    Olowo said that Pedro has shown remorse and needed to be forgiven.

    He said, ” to err is human, to forgive is divine. Pedro has shown much remorse and obedience, let’s pardon him to have his sanity back. Pedro has passed through much psychological trauma.”

    He said the purpose of the impeachment then was not based on fraud or criminal tendencies.

    Hon. Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health commended the adhoc committee for the recommendation to revert the impeachment.

    Olulade also commended Pedro for withdrawing court cases challenging his removal to allow the Assembly wade into the matter.

    According to the lawmaker, Pedro should be forgiven and be allowed to further contribute to the society.

    Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin I) said, “I am in agreement with the report of the committee, all the allegations against Pedro were not criminal.

    “The former deputy governor has displayed a lot of maturity and honourable behaviour. His name has to be cleared. He is a man of integrity and we should clear him of the allegations.”

    However, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Hon. Tunde Braimoh urged the House to direct the Executive to invalidate documents against Pedro.

    Responding, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that the House was not absorbing Pedro of the allegation but decided to pardon him for showing remorse.

    Obasa said that since Pedro was not convicted of any crime by any court of law, the Assembly had decided to pardon him and undo the impeachment served on him in 2007.

  • Court quashes impeachment of former Enugu deputy gov, Onyebuchi

    An Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice R. O. Odugu has nullified the purported impeachment of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Sunday Onyebuchi, and ordered the restoration of all his rights and benefits from the time of his removal to the period that his tenure elapsed.

    The court, in a judgment that lasted over an hour, yesterday quashed what was popularly regarded as “Enugu Chicken Impeachment” that generated public outrage last year.

    Onyebuchi was impeached at the tail end of his tenure on August 26, last year by the immediate past State House of Assembly following the recommendation of the seven-man impeachment panel set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike, which investigated the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by then Governor Sullivan Chime.

    Onyebuchi was replaced by his cousin, Rev Ifeanyi Nwoye, who served as deputy governor from August last year to May 29, this year.

    According to the then State Assembly led by the Speaker, Eugene Odoh, the former Deputy Governor was removed based on allegations of gross misconduct arising from rearing chicken in his official residence and alleged refusal to represent his former boss at two official functions within and outside Enugu.

    Justice Odugu, who granted all the reliefs sought by the former Deputy Governor, said that both the legislators and Nwoye, whom the court described as the beneficiary of the illegality, neither appeared to defend themselves nor sent legal representation throughout the trial of the case.

    He agreed with the submissions by the plaintiff’s counsel, Chris Aghanwa, that the impeachment did not comply with the provision of Section 188 of the amended 1999 constitution, declaring that the rearing of poultry did not in any way constitute gross misconduct as envisaged by the constitution.

    The former Deputy Governor had approached the court to challenge his impeachment from office based on allegation of gross misconduct, urging the court to restore him to office as well as order payment of his benefit if the matter was not concluded before the end of his tenure in office.

    He had also asked the court to declare as unconstitutional his removal, his replacement by Nwoye as well as whether the allegations contained in the impeachment notice amounted to abuse of office.

    Ruling on the matter, Justice Odugu stated that while the trial lasted, all the defendants did not respond to the various summons served on them just as all the submissions made by the plaintiff were not faulted or denied.

    He said that there was no copy of the purported resolution of the impeachment panel presented before the court. He faulted the secret trial of the plaintiff, emphasising that the proceeding for the removal of the deputy governor should not be hidden from the public.

    Justice Odugu ruled that mere rearing of poultry by the deputy governor did not in any way constitute gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, adding that it has nothing to do with section 188 of the constitution.

    “The defendants wrongfully exercised their powers by removing the deputy governor maintaining poultry which does not contravene section 188 of the constitution,” he said.

    He added that the alleged blatant refusal of the deputy governor to attend two public functions assigned to him by the governor could not amount to gross misconduct, insisting that “only a grave violation or breach of the constitution that can be regarded as a gross misconduct.”

    The judge declared that “section 188 sub-section 11 of the constitution is not a weapon of the House of Assembly to police the duty of the deputy governor or to hound him out of office and besides, the plaintiff had told the court that the only constitutional duty assigned to him by the governor was the chairmanship of the boundary adjustment commission.”

    Condemning the secret trial of the deputy governor, Justice Odugu said he could not understand how the panel arrived at the decision that the refusal of the plaintiff to attend two social functions constituted gross misconduct more so when the trial was done in camera. “The office of the deputy governor is a public office, his election was also by the public, any secret trial therefore is a flagrant breach of constitutional provision for fair hearing,” he added.

    Justice Odugu therefore declared the state assembly violated their constitutional duties by embarking on the removal or impeachment of the deputy governor when there was no basis for it, saying the purported nomination of Rev. Nwoye to replace Onyebuchi was illegal and unconstitutional.

    Setting aside the notice of impeachment and nomination of Nwoye, Justice Odugu ordered the reinstatement to office of the Sunday Onyebuchi from August 27, 2014 to May 28, 2015.

    The plaintiff, the court further ruled, was entitled to receive salaries, entitlements and benefits including pension for the period he served as deputy governor and awarded an exemplary and cumulative cost of N25,000 against each of the 25 defendants amounting to N600,000.

    Reacting to the judgement, Onyebuchi, who was in court with his wife, Nneka, told reporters that he had been vindicated and has forgiven all those who were used to perpetuate the injustice. ‎“Some of them have come to confess and plead for forgiveness saying that they were used and I have forgiven them, even those who haven’t come to me. The God I serve is God of forgiveness and therefore I hold nothing against them,” Onyebuchi said.