Okorocha, deputy trade words over court judgement

The dispute between Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and his deputy, Eze Madumere, took another dimension after an Owerri High Court quashed the impeachment of the latter by the state’s House of Assembly.

While Madumere has said that he remains the deputy governor, Okorocha has insisted that Madumere’s ouster is a fait accompli.

Madumere had recently issued a statement as the deputy governor in which he said that the judgement of the court had vindicated him.

But Okorocha, speaking on Wednesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said that the statuequo should remains since he had filed a notice of appeal as well as a stay of execution of the judgement.

Okorocha said that he had refused to comment on the judgement immediately it was delivered because he wanted to read the full import of the judgment.

He said, “The judgment on Madumere was delivered on Tuesday. We had withheld reaction to that judgement because we needed to read it and acquaint ourselves with the crux of the judgement.

“We have read it, and the crux of the judgement delivered by Hon Justice B.C. Iheka is that the Chief Judge of the State constituted the seven–man investigation panel outside the 7 days approved by law.

“We hold nothing against the trial Judge and we shall continue to hold the Judge and the judiciary in general in high esteem.

“We also want to inform the general public that all the relevant parties in the matter have filed their appeals against the judgement and the motion for stay of execution has also been filed.

“We have also read the Press Statement issued and signed by Prince Madumere himself, which he issued and signed as Deputy – Governor few minutes after the judgement.”

While describing the deputy governor as a confused man, Okorocha said:  “The fact remains that Prince Madumere is confused. He does not know what he wants. He signed the statement as Deputy – Governor and at the same time parading himself as Governorship Aspirant on the platform of APC and of course, about 48 hours to the party’s primary for the governorship.

“In his statement, he thanked two other Governorship Aspirants in the State on the platforms of APGA and PDP, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and Chief Emeka Ihedioha for their contributions to his legal victory.

“Prince Eze Madumere had thanked Chief Ohakim and Chief Ihedioha whose supports for him were targeted at Governor Okorocha and APC in the State, but heavily insulted the man who took him up from the floor where he was to the level he is today.”