Ex-Imo Deputy Governor Jude Agbaso, vindicated 8 years after impeachment

Tobi Adetunji

A State High Court sitting in Owerri the Imo capital   has nullified the impeachment of former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso.

Mr. Agbaso was impeached on March 28, 2013, during the Rochas Okorocha led administration.

Delivering the judgment yesterday,  the presiding judge, Justice S.I Opara said the process that led to the impeachment of the former deputy governor was unconstitutional, null, and void as due process was not followed.

Justice Opara added that the defendant was not giving a fair hearing on the matter before the impeachment was done.

While noting that in the eyes of the law the impeachment never occurred, the court however ordered the Imo State Government to pay all entitlements and emoluments accrued to the former Deputy Governor from March 28, 2013,till the date of impeachment till May 28, 2015, when his tenure as Deputy Governor was supposed to end.

Reacting to the judgment the counsel to Former Deputy Governor, Barrister Chijioke Emeka said the landmark judgement is a triumph of the rule of law and once again the development has shown that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

He noted that the impeachment case is the longest in the history of the country as the case which started on April 30, 2013, ended after 8 years.

The former Deputy Governor Mr. Jude Agbaso who also reacted to the judgement said he felt elated that finally justice has been served and justice delayed is never justice denied.