₦airaland Forum

Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Monday morning commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Sullivan Chime of the State.

DAILY POST reports that fourteen lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Hon. Eugene Odo sat early this morning where they read a notice of impeachment against Chime for allegedly forging the N12 billion 2012 Supplementary Budget.

The impeachment notice was signed by 14 members of the House including the speaker.

The Clerk of the House, Christopher Chukwurah was directed to serve the notice on the governor immediately.

The Deputy Speaker, Chime Oji who was recently elected to represent Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Emeka Ogbuabor and Deputy House Leader, John Kevin Ukwuta were suspended at the sitting for alleged anti-House activities.

According to DAILY POST findings, the speaker and the 13 members found their way into the legislative chamber at 6.28 am and held the sitting after the police had prevented them from gaining entry into the House.

Following complaints by the speaker, the police men were ordered to allow them into the House.

The lawmakers had complained that the governor was using some members of the House to disrupt the activities of the House for refusing to approve the N11 billion loan requested by the governor.

However, the mace was taken away after the sitting of the House.

But at 7.05am the suspended Deputy Speaker and six other members of the House including the Deputy Govenor-elect, Hon. Cicilia Ezeilo walked into the chamber with another mace and conducted another sitting. One member later joined them.

After a short prayer, Hon. John Kevin Ukwuta, who was also suspended by the Odo-led group moved a motion that Hon. Johnbull Nwagu who was suspended by the House should be recalled and Hon. Chinedu Nwamba seconded the motion.

The Chime group of nine lawmakers, however, lifted the suspension slammed on Nwagu for misconduct and invited him to join the group bringing their number to nine.

Hon. Ukwuta thereafter moved another motion calling for the suspension of the Speaker Eugene Odoh and six other members in his group including Anichukwu Nwankwo, Okechukwu Nwoke, Paul Ogbe, Nze Michael Onyeze, Chika Eneh and SKE Udo-Okoye. The motion was approved by the nine members.

The principal officers among the suspended were also stripped of their positions and benefits.

Ukwuta further moved for the nomination of other colleagues to fill the vacancies created by the suspension and nominated Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East constituency to be sworn in as Speaker of the House.

The motion was approved and Chinedu Nwamba was sworn in as Speaker of the G-9. The group later adjourned sine die.

Speaking to journalists, the factional speaker, Hon. Nwamba said a new dawn had come in the House.

He said there was no way the House would involve itself in impeaching the most performing governor in the country.


Meanwhile, a security source told DAILY POST that the police had been given directive to seal-off the House to prevent the Odo-led group from further sitting.

MAKURD – A female adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, (name withheld) and a commercial motorbike operator were reportedly killed on Saturday morning, along the Obussa-Ebonyi road, in Oju local government area of Benue state.

Vanguard learnt that the INEC staff had boarded the motorbike to Oju town where she was posted for election duties when she, alongside the bike operator, met their untimely death.

According to the source,”they were riding on top speed at about 7:45 when the front part of the motorbike suddenly pulled of leading to the fatal accident and the instant death of the INEC staff.
“Though the bike rider survived after sustaining seriously injuries he later died before receiving medical attention.”

Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of INEC in Benue state, Mr. Louis Ochai confirmed that the deceased official was an adhoc staff who was moving to her place of assignment when the accident occurred.

“We have already sent people there to give us a detailed report on the matter for further action.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Austin Ezeani who confirmed the incident said the victims were on election duty when they met their untimely death.

“I also want to state that aside this accident, we have not recorded any ugly incidents in the state, so far it has been a peaceful exercise in Benue state.”Ezeani said.