Alleged theft in U.S., refusal to meet Okorocha: Imo lawmakers commence impeachment process against Madumere

For refusing to attend State Executive Council meetings, lawmakers in Imo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, commenced impeachment process against the deputy governor, Eze Madumere.
Madumere, who has declared partisan war against Governor Rochas Okorocha over the 2019 election in the South-East state, was also accused of refusal to carry out official duties assigned to him by Okorocha, refusal to hold meetings with the governor and commissioners; and imprisonment for theft in the United States (U.S.).
Deputy Speaker, Ugonna Ozuruigbo, who moved the motion that the impeachment process be served on the embattled deputy governor, accused him of abandoning his duties and office as the number two citizen of the state for a long time.
The lawmaker representing Oru West State Constituency, Donatus Onuigwe, who opposed the impeachment proceedings, was suspended by Speaker Acho Ihim immediately.
The plenary was tension-soaked as armed security men barricaded entry and exit points of the Assembly Complex .
The Speaker said that the petition met and surpassed the required one-third as provided for in Section 188 ( 2) 11 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The Assembly is made up of 27 members, but four members who were sympathetic to Madumere were, penultimate weekend, suspended for “unparliamentary conduct , ” paving the way for the impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor.
A six- man committee headed by member representing Obowo State Constituency, Kennedy Ibe, was set up to probe the allegations and report back to the House within seven days.
It is believed the crisis between Okorocha and Madumere started when the governor insisted that his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, would succeed him.
But, Madumere would have none of that, saying that he would contest for the number one position in the next general elections.
Madumere has already teamed up with Senators and members of the House of Representatives in the state to hijack the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure from the governor.