The blood pressure of Governor Rochas Okoroch of Imo State may need medical attention as a High Court sitting in Owerri on Tuesday quashed the removal of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, by the Imo State House of Assembly. The court declared the action of the lawmakers “invalid and of no legal effect”.
Justice Benjamin Iheaka, the presiding judge who annulled the removal, slammed the State Chief Judge, Justice Paschal Nnadi, and the Attorney General of the state, Militus Nlemadim, for not adhering to the provisions of section 188 sub-section 5 of the1999 constitution as amended in the removal of Madumere.
As a result of the strained relationship between Okorocha and Madumere, the latter was removed from office on July 30 by a section of the Imo State House of Assembly members following a motion moved by the member representing Owerri Municipal, Lugard Osuji.
The deputy governor was accused of abandoning his duty for three months and failure to carry out his constitutional duties among others.
Political watches said Madumere’s sin before Okorocha who now sees himself as a god was his interest to run for the governorship of the state. Okorocha had boasted to all who cared to listen that he has plans for his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him come 2019; a decision that did not go down well will Imo people as a result of Okorocha’s extremely poor performance in the state.
