Lead Counsel to the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Ken Njemanze, has said he is disappointed in the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Miletus Nlemadim for not taking seriously decisions of the court on the planned impeachment process of the deputy Governor, Eze Madumere.
Njemanze, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria made this admonition on Monday, during the hearing in a suit filed by Madumere, against the Chief Judge, Justice Paschal Nnadi, Speaker, Acho Ihim, members of Imo State House of Assembly, seven-man Panel of Inquiry and others challenging the alleged constitutional breaches in the impeachment procedures against his person.
He said he was disappointment over the role played by the Attorney General who was present in court on July 30, 2018, where the presiding Judge, Justice Benjamin Iheka granted explicit order, in the morning, restraining the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi, the Speaker with other members of Imo House of Assembly and members of seven-Man Panel of Inquiry from any further action pertaining to the impeachment proceeding of Madumere but was informed at about 6 hours later that the members of Imo State House of Assembly had gone ahead with the purported impeachment of the Deputy Governor over frivolous allegations.
His words: “I am disappointed that Attorney-General, Hon. Miletus Nlemadim who should know the law and advise the House of Assembly appropriately but flagrantly allowed the House to do the wrong thing, thereby disobeying the Orders of the Court. It is very unfortunate that he was in court and allowed such illegality.”
However, Njemamze submitted that he had served motion ex parte on the respondents to appear in court to say what they know about the purported impeachment proceeding despite a subsisting court Order.
In his defense, Nlemadim prayed that some of the respondents had not received the motion summoning them to appear before the court.
It was revealed that respondents four to eight were yet to have been served due to non-identification of the contact points.
Against this backdrop, Njemanze prayed that the respondents in question will be served by substituted means through the Office of the Chief Judge since they are members of the seven Man Panel constituted by the Chief Judge.
The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Iheka, however, adjourned the matter to August 20, 2018, to enable all parties involved in the matter be served appropriately.