A High Court in Owerri on Tuesday issued an order restraining the swearing in of Mr. Calistus Ekenze as the new deputy governor of Imo State.
It was gathered that top government officials had gathered at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers inside the Government House in Owerri where the swearing-in was supposed to take place as early as 10 am when the news of the restraining order broke.
After waiting for more than two hours for the commencement of the ceremony, the state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Mr. Miletus Nlemadim, announced that the state government had complied with a fresh order from the court preventing the chief judge of the state, Mr. Pascal Nnadi, from swearing-in Ekenze.
He said the state government would take the necessary step to vacate the order.
It would be recalled that Madumere was impeached by 19 out of the 27 member assembly.
He was accused of being absent from work for period of three months without reasons.
He was also alleged to have failed to perform his constitutional duties like attending state executive and security council meetings.
Besides, the erstwhile deputy governor was also accused of failing to attend meetings with the governor and other government functionaries.
Furthermore, Madumere was alleged to have concealed felonious acts in the United States.
Following the allegations and subsequent impeachment, the state governor Okorocha forwarded Ekenze’s name to the house of assembly as Madumere’s replacement.
