The
Ebonyi State House of Assembly today began impeachment proceedings against Governor
Martin Elechi.
They agreed to serve an impeachment notice on Governor Martin
Elechi, after accusing the governor of corruption and gross misconduct.
A
motion for the notice to be served on the governor was approved after the
acting Majority Leader of the House, Francis Nwifruru, on Friday, read details
accusing Mr. Elechi of undermining the integrity of the House and committing
fraudulent acts.
The
Ebonyi Assembly had last Wednesday, February 18, set up a panel to investigate
allegations of financial misappropriation against the governor and some of his
aides.
The
assembly took the decision following petitions it received from groups in the
state, including Ebonyi Integrity Group.
In
one of the petitions, the embattled governor, his son, Elechi Elechi, and
Edward Nkwegu, among others, were accused of contract inflation and illegal use
of state funds for private gains.
Before
the probe panel was constituted, the House Leader, Ikechukwu Ogbu, had read the
petitions written against the governor on the floor of the assembly.
The
petitions were adopted through a motion sponsored by Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, a
member representing Izzi West State constituency.
In
his contribution, the Minority Leader, Enyi Enyi, described the allegations
against Mr. Elechi as shocking, adding that the governor risked impeachment if
found guilty.
Other
lawmakers who spoke that Wednesday urged the assembly to invoke all its
constitutional powers to deal with the issue.
They,
however, pointed out that those accused would be given the opportunity to defend
themselves before the house takes necessary action.
Shortly
after debates on the petitions were concluded, the Speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku,
called for a voice vote and members unanimously agreed that the governor be
investigated.
The
assembly, thereby, set up a special panel headed by Odefa Odefa, a member
representing Onicha South, to further investigate the allegations and report
its findings to the assembly.
The
speaker noted that the essence of the special committee was to do a thorough
investigation on the weighty allegations against the governor.
Apparently
aware of the thickening plot to oust him, Mr. Elechi had told members of Ezza
Ezzekuna Youth Congress, who paid him a solidarity visit at the government
house in Abakiliki, that top politicians were holding meetings to remove him
from office.
“I
want to bring to your notice that some politicians who have vowed to govern
this state at all cost have been holding secret meetings on how to impeach me,”
the governor said.
“They
said I’m a bad person and that if I continue to remain in power they will not
have their way of ruling the state. All I can say is that if they sack me, I
will relocate to my home.”
He called on the youth not to allow the state be taken over by desperate politicians who do not have their interest at heart.
Mr. Elechi asked the youth to be vigilant and resist any attempt to use them to stoke crisis which would not bring any good to the state.
The move on Friday, to serve the governor an impeachment notice, came after the House completed its investigation.
He called on the youth not to allow the state be taken over by desperate politicians who do not have their interest at heart.
Mr. Elechi asked the youth to be vigilant and resist any attempt to use them to stoke crisis which would not bring any good to the state.
The move on Friday, to serve the governor an impeachment notice, came after the House completed its investigation.
Ebonyi Assembly begins impeachment of Governor Elechi
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Friday, February 27, 2015
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