Judges Boycott Swearing-in of New Deputy Gov of Imo as Court Halts Ceremony

Amby Uneze in Owerri

Imo State judges yesterday boycotted the scheduled swearing-in ceremony of the Deputy Governor-designate, Mr. Clasitus Ekenze as the state High Court 8 sitting in Owerri, the state capital, stopped all parties, including the Chief Judge of the state, state House of Assembly, and the seven-man panel of enquiry from proceeding with the removal of the impeached Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, pending the determination of the suit filed by the embattled deputy governor until the determination of the substantive case.

There was also a drama in the Imo State State Government House as the judges in the state refused to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of the newly- nominated Deputy Governor, Mr. Clasitus Ekenze, as the new deputy governor following the restraining order of the court served on the Chief Judge and other parties involved in the deputy governor’s impeachment.

Governor Rochas Okorocha and the members of the state Executive Council had gathered at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri to perform the swearing-in of Ekenze but met the absence of the Chief Judge, Justice Pascal Nnadi, who constitutionally is empowered to administer the oath of office and the swearing-in.

THISDAY gathered that the Chief Judge had advised the governor against the swearing-in due to the restraining court order which hinders him from going ahead to perform the duty.

The state High Court presided over by Justice Benjamin Iheka had yesterday restrained the parties from further action in the impeachment saga, but the State House of Assembly vehemently ignored that order and went ahead to perfect the impeachment of Madumere.