Elechi Jubilates as Court restrains Ebonyi Assembly

An Abakaliki High Court on Wednesday restrained the Ebonyi State House of Assembly from proceeding with impeachment proceedings against the state governor,Mr. Martin Elechi.

Justice John Igboji granted the order following an ex-parte motion filed against the Speaker, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, and the Chief Whip, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, on behalf of other members of the House, by Elechi.

In the application, Elechi asked for an interim injunction restraining the respondents from proceeding with the impeachment process.

Besides the legislators, others joined in the suit are Ebonyi State House of Assembly, the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The motion, filed by Elechi’s counsel, Chief G. Tagbo Ike, was pursuant to order 4 Rules 3 and 4 (c) (iv) and (v); Order V Rule 7(b) and (d) of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.

Specifically, the court was asked for an interim injunction restraining the respondents from serving Elechi with the notice of impeachment, pending the determination of the substantive application, as well as an interim injunction restraining the chief judge from constituting a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the governor.

In a short ruling, Justice Igboji granted the interim injunctions, stressing that the order restrains the respondents from howsoever continuing with the impeachment proceeding against the applicant, pending the determination of the substantive application.

The matter was adjourned to March 10.