The controversy over who’s the former deputy governor of Enugu State is far from ending as both Sunday Onyebuchi and Pastor Pastor Ifeanyi Nwoye are laying claim to the position with respect to all the entitlements accrued to the office.
In what was daubed ‘Chicken Impeachment’ by the media, Onyebuchi was booted out of office on August 26th, 2014 by the state House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Eugene Odoh.
Dr. Onyebuchi’s impeachment followed the recommendation of the seven-man Impeachment Panel led by late Chief Judge, Innocent Umezuruike. The panel was set up by the State to investigated allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him by the former governor, Barr. Sullivan Chime.
However, on December 19, 2105, Enugu High Court presided over by Justice Reuben Odugu nullified the impeachment and ordered the restoration of his rights and benefits from the time of removal from office to the period his tenure elapsed.
But Nwoye in a statement made available to the media insists he’s the legitimate former deputy governor of the State.
He said his insistence is premised on the Appeal Court judgment of November 4, 2020 which he stressed, reinstated him as the deputy governor over an earlier judgment of the Enugu State High Court of 2014 that nullified Onyebuchi’s impeachment.
He maintained that the Appeal Court judgment had thus validated his position as the former deputy governor and as such, all remunerations due to him as the former deputy governor should be given to him and not his predecessor, Sunday Onyebuchi.
“Following the Court of Appeal judgment on November 4, 2020, presided over by three man justices led by Justice Joseph Oluwabunmi K. Kayode JCA which delivered in favour of Pastor Ifeanyi Nwoye, as the rightful former deputy governor of Enugu State under His Excellency, Sullivan Chime administration.
”The Court in her judgment set aside the judgment of the Enugu State High Court in Suit No. E/373/2014 which installed His Excellency Sunday Onyebuchi as the Deputy Governor of Enugu State within the said administration.
“The Court therefore ruled that the status of Pastor Ifeanyi Nwoye as a former deputy governor of Enugu State remains intact as he is entitled to all remuneration that is due to him as former deputy governor.”
