Court Voids Suspension of Five Imo Lawmakers

A high court in Imo State yesterday declared as null and void the suspension of five members of the state House of Assembly.

The presiding judge, Justice Goddy Anunihu, who declared the processes that led to the indefinite suspension of the five lawmakers as “putting the horse before the cart,” also awarded N8 million as cost against the three defendants.

The defendants in the suit instituted by the embattled lawmakers were: the Imo State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Acho Ihim and the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

The affected lawmakers are: Chiiji Collins, Israel Nnataraoye, Nkenna Nzerue, Uche Oguwuike and Donatus Onuigwe.

They represent Isiala Mbano, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru, Oru East and Oru West state constituencies respectively.

The lawmakers were, in July, suspended by their colleagues in what the Speaker described as “un-parliamentary conduct.”

They were suspended during the crisis surrounding the impeachment of the state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere.

The court had since reinstated Madumere.

The presiding judge who tongue-lashed the legislature for acting against the law, faulted the setting-up of an investigation team to look into the allegations against the now reinstated lawmakers.

Anunihu said that based on the evidence before him, the panel was set up even before the “purported indefinite suspension.”

One of the reinstated lawmakers, Nnataraonye, who spoke to our correspondent on the phone shortly after the judgment was delivered, said, “I am in my office now. I have moved in and resumed duties immediately.

“This is victory for democracy and it shows that our judicial system is a place of justice.”