Imo Deputy Governor Impeached ...Okorocha’s Aide Replaces Impeached Deputy Governor

 Jude Agbaso

Barely hours after the High Court dismissed the suit by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso, asking it to stop his impeachment by the state Assembly, the embattled deputy governor has been removed from office.

Twenty-five out of the 26 members of the Imo State House of Assembly approved the impeachment.
His impeachment is coming after a prolonged battle over the allegation that he demanded the sum of N417 million from a contractor in the state. Mr. Agbaso has consistently denied the allegation.

Mr. Agbaso had earlier approached the court praying it to restrain the state lawmakers from proceeding with the impeachment process which began three weeks ago.
He also prayed the court to restrain the Nigerian Police from harassing him or acting upon the recommendations of the House of Assembly against him.

Eze Madumere

Okorocha’s Aide Replaces Impeached Deputy Governor

The Chief of Staff to the Governor of Imo State, Mr. Eze Madumere, has been cleared by the state House of Assembly to replace the impeached Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso.
Mr. Madumere who was nominated by Governor Rochas Okorocha, was cleared by the lawmakers shortly after they impeached the former deputy governor, Mr. Agbaso.
The new deputy governor is expected to be sworn in on Friday at the Government House in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Mr. Madumere before his appointment as the deputy governor was the Chief of Staff to Mr. Okorocha since the inception of his administration.
The former deputy governor was impeached on Thursday, hours after a state High Court dismissed his suit to stop his impeachment by the state Assembly.

Okorocha’s shock
Reacting to the impeachment of Mr Agbaso, Mr Okorocha said he is shocked at the removal.
Noting that he waded into Mr Agbaso crises, Mr Okorocha said it is regrettable that impeached deputy governor allowed the situation to degenerate, resulting in his impeachment by the state assembly.

He however wished him well in his subsequent endeavours while asking the new deputy governor  to help advance the Imo rescue agenda of the government.

March 29, 2013