Imo deputy gov, Agbaso, impeached •Okorocha’s Chief of Staff, Madumere, to step in

THE Imo state House of Assembly on Thursday impeached the state’s Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso on alleged misappropriation of the sum of N485 million following the conclusion of an investigation on the allegations levelled against him by a seven-man panel
With the impeachment, which took place at the close of working hours, it is now certain that the Chief Of staff to the state governor, Prince Eze Madumere would replace Agbaso, having been  nominated already by the governor. Madumere may be sworn in next week after an approval by the House.
Madumere, 48, hails from the family of His Royal Highness, Eze Henry Anorue Madumere and Ugoeze Malinda Madumere of Achi Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Meanwhile, the impeached Deputy Governor who was absent at the hearing by the Investigative Panel which sat at the Council of Traditional Rulers’ Secretariat Owerri, had earlier sent a protest letter through his lawyer, Emperor Iwuala, claiming he has not been served any summons as stipulated by law.
Agbaso in the letter duly signed by him challenged the appointment and constitution of the panel by the Chief Judge of Imo State and the subsequent unlawful inauguration and swearing in of the chairman and members of the panel.
He said that since the matter to be investigated are subjudice it behoves on the panel to respect the pendency of the suit by allowing the law to take its course, adding that doing otherwise will amount to pre-empting the decision of the High Court in the two pending suits.
The House of Assembly which is the second witness represented by their counsel, Niyi Akintola tendered all necessary and certified documents including two votes and proceedings of Imo State House of Assembly number 42 and 44 that preceeds the issuance of notice of impeachment to the deputy governor.
Akintola also tendered two affidavits of service confirming that the deputy governor was served by the House of Assembly before the panel.
Reacting to the letter tendered by the deputy governor, Akintola intimated the panel that the suit 174 filed by the former deputy governor had been dismissed on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at the Owerri High Court, few hours before the panel hearing.
Trubune