Contrary to the story making the rounds that impeachment proceeding against the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere may have begun yesterday, the Office of the Deputy Governor has denied such following the failure of the lawmakers to have notified the Deputy Governor of any notice of gross misconduct.

It is against this backdrop that the Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor, Uche Onwuchekwa, in a press statement he issued informed the public to discountenance the said proceeding, saying that his boss, Prince Madumere is yet to receive such notice of gross misconduct.

He, however, opined that the Principal Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Nze Obinna Aharanwa, was said to have received the purported notice signed by some members of Imo State House of Assembly against the stipulation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He averred that a purported notice of gross misconduct signed by some members of the Imo State House of Assembly was served on Nze Obinna Aharanwa, Principal Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Imo State, which is against the stipulation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that Prince Madumere must be mandatorily served personally.”

He insists that his earlier release in defence of his boss was made on his own accord and based on rumour on social media platforms.

He, therefore, opined that the Deputy Governor as a law-abiding and responsible citizen will respond to whatever charges whenever he is personally served as required by law.

The statement reads:

“This is to inform the people of Imo State and indeed the general public, that on Tuesday 10th Day of July 2018, by 1:30pm at the office of the Deputy Governor, Government House, Owerri a purported notice of gross misconduct signed by some members of the Imo State House of Assembly was served on Nze Obinna Aharanwa, Principal Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Imo State.

2. It must be emphasised that the purported notice of gross misconduct signed by some members of Imo State House of Assembly was not served on the Deputy Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Prince Eze Madumere personally as mandatorily stipulated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). And till date, no such notice has been served on His Excellency Prince Eze Madumere.

3. When and if any such notice is served on the Deputy Governor of Imo State His Excellency Prince Eze Madumere personally as required by law, he shall, as a law-abiding and responsible citizen of the State react to same personally.

4. The earlier press statement issued me yesterday was done on my own accord and without reference to His Excellency, the Deputy Governor who had not been served personally and who is currently out of the state.”