Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), on Tuesday commended the Imo State judiciary for stopping the swearing-in of deputy governor-designate of the state.
The Imo State House of Assembly had on Monday defied a court’s restraining order and went on to impeach Eze Madumere as the Deputy Governor of the state.
Governor Rochas Okorocha had nominated Calistus Ekenze as a replacement.
But a court in the State gave order against plan to swear-in Ekenze as the new deputy governor.
Reacting to the development, Falana in a statement commended the Imo State judiciary, calling on the Nigerian Bar Association to ensure that the order of the Chief Judge of the state was complied with.
He said: “A few days ago, Honourable Justice Ben Iheka of the Imo State High Court granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the impeachment panel constituted by the Chief Judge of Imo State, the Honourable Justice Padcal Nnadi, from entertaining the allegations against Prince Ezeakonobi Madumere, the Deputy Governor of Imo State.
“In a demonstration of brazen contempt of court, the House of Assembly ignored the valid and subsisting court order and hurriedly passed a resolution for the purported impeachment of Prince Madumere as Deputy Governor of Imo State.
“Instead of calling the legislators to order by asking them to purge themselves of contempt of court Governor Okorocha announced Mr. Calistus Ekenze as the new Deputy Governor.
“Governor Rochas Okorocha directed the Chief Judge of Imo State to swear in the so-called new Deputy Governor.
“However, the Chief Judge rightly turned down the contemptuous directive of Governor Okorocha to swear in Mr. Ekenze as Deputy Governor of the State.
“In a historic solidarity with the Chief Judge, all the other Judges in High Court of Imo State have resolved not to lend judicial weight to the subversion of the rule of law by the legislative and executive organs of the Imo State Government.
“While commending the Imo State judiciary for upholding the basic tenet of the rule of law we call on the Nigerian Bar Association and all democratic forces in the country to ensure that the order of the Chief Judge is fully complied with.
“Let the legislators and Governor Okorocha purge themselves of contempt of court by continuing to recognise Prince Madumere as the Deputy Governor of Imo State pending the determination of the pending suit before the State High Court on the validity of the impeachment proceedings adopted by the House of Assembly of Imo State.”
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