Court Reinstates Impeached Enugu Deputy Gov

The impeachment of the former deputy governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyeabuchi, has been declared illegal.

Onyeabuchi was removed from office after the State House of Assembly found him guilty of gross misconduct and running a poultry at the Government House. He was impeached by majority of the House.

But in a ruling by Justice Odugu of the Enugu State High Court, it was held that the allegations upon which the Assembly carried out the impeachment do not constitute gross misconduct.

The court further held that the sitting of the impeachment panel behind closed-door goes against the principle of fair hearing.

According to Justice Odugu, the nomination and approval of Ifeanyi Nwoye as Onyeabuchi’s replacement was illegal and therefore null and void.

The court therefore reinstated Onyeabuchi to complete his tenure which ended May 29, 2015, and also ordered that his salaries, allowances and other entitlements, including his pension as former deputy governor be paid, while the cost of 600,000 was awarded by the court in favour of Onyebuchi.