In what appears a move to impeach the Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, 13 members of the Imo State House of Assembly today at plenary served a notice to the Speaker, Rt Hon Acho Ihim on why the number 2 citizen has to be impeached.
Aside political considerations which has seen the Deputy Governor fall out with his political boss of more than 20 years, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha over the 2019 governorship election, members of the House alleged that Prince Madumere had indulged in gross misconduct.
This is coming barely two weeks four members of the House were suspended for “unparliamentary” acts.
The suspended House members are suspected loyalists of Madumere.
Before the Notice was served on the Deputy Governor, another lawmaker, Hon Donatus Onuigiwe is to face a Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for allegations bordering on “unparliamentary conduct”
The Notice to the House on the Deputy Governor was signed by 13 lawmakers with the Deputy Speaker, Hon.Ugonna Ozuruigbo, the Chief petitioner.
Titled “ Notice of Gross Misconduct”, the lawmakers said they are of the opinion that “Prince Eze Madumere, Deputy Governor of Imo State of Nigeria committed gross misconduct in the performance of his office”
Particulars of the misconduct as stated in the letter to the Speaker reads:
• Absence without official reason or permission duly obtained from office for a period of three months
• Failure to perform any of the constitutional function of office of Deputy Governor of Imo State including not limited to:
A. Failure/ Refusal to attend Constitutionally mandated proceedings of State Security Council
B. Refusal to attend, and to hold meetings with the Governor and commissioners of the Government of Imo State for the governance of Imo State made compulsory by and under s.193 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
C. Concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as eligible candidate of office of Deputy Governor of Imo State, having been convicted and imprisoned in the United States of America.
With the Notice served, Assembly sources said it provides a solid platform for the impeachment against the Deputy Governor to commence. With four lawmakers on suspension and 13 members already in approval for the impeachment moves, the House seem to be inching close to 2/3rd majority to get the number two citizen impeached.
Madumere has in the eye of the storm after he dumped Governor Rochas Okorocha’s camp for the Imo APC Restoration/Coalition.
The Coalition is opposed to the Governor.
Madumere is nursing a governorship ambition which pitched him against his boss who seems to have anointed his Chief of Staff and son in law, Uche Nwosu as his successor in 2019.
Madumere was offered Owerri zone Senate seat by Okorocha an offer he roundly rejected setting the stage for a fierce political war that has kept him at logger heads with the camp of the Governor .
