Court Rules On Former Imo Deputy Governor Agbaso’s Impeachment

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

Recall that the Imo House of Assembly had on March 28, 2013, impeached Agbaso as the deputy governor of the state on the allegations that he collected N458m and red label drink as bribes from a construction firm, J-pros.

Following his impeachment, Agbaso, who was as at the time the deputy to a former governor of the State, Rochas Okorocha, had gone to court.

Counsel to Agbaso, Chijioke Emeka, had informed the court that his client and the defendants which included the state governor, the State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of the State had on February 1 drafted terms of settlements and filed same in court on February 2.

In his brief judgment on Monday, Justice I.S Opara said the terms of settlements had become a consent judgement of the court.

Justice Opara said that he was giving the consent judgment since the parties had opted to settle óut of court.

Speaking to newsmen after the ruling, Emeka said the consent judgment had nullified the impeachment of his client on March 28, 2013, as the deputy governor of the state.

He said the judgment had restored his client’s entitlements as a former deputy governor of the State and had been legally fit to hold public positions again.

Also speaking, Agbaso accused Okorocha of intentionally framing him up “just to get me out of the way.”

Agbaso said. “It has been a torturous eight years but I thank the good people of Imo State. I thank the government of Senator Hope Uzodinma for its bold stand, which hastened the resolution.”