Embattled Deputy governor of Imo State, Sir Jude Agbaso, has sued the Imo State House of Assembly in the Federal High Court Owerri, Imo State, claiming lack of fair hearing in the ongoing process to impeach him over allegation of collecting gratification in the sum of N458 million from a contractor handling one of the road projects in the state.
In an originating motion, FHC/OW/174/2013 for the enforcement of his fundamental rights filed on March 14, 2013, Sir Agbaso among other things, is alledging that the Imo State House of Assembly Special Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Remote Causes/Abandonment of Work on some Roads in Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe that indicted him of collecting bribe was biased and acted beyond its constitutional powers when it pronounced him guilty of a criminal offence and recommended for his impeachment.
Agbaso is asking the court to void his indictment and restrain the ongoing impeachment process initiated against him for breach of his fundamental rights. Also joined in the suit are the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ben Uwajumogu, the Chairman and members of the above-named Special Adhoc Committee, the Chief judge of Imo State and the Inspector General of Police.
The defendants in the suit are said to have been served with the relevant court processes in the suit. The matter is expected to come up for hearing on Monday.
Consequently, in a letter dated March 14, 2013, counsel to the deputy governor P. I. N. Ikwueto (SAN), has written to the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly warning him and the state legislature to refrain from taking further actions or steps in the impeachment process against Sir Agbaso as the matter has gone to court. Citing the case of Chief Adefarati v Governor of Ondo State in the letter, the lawyer warned the state House of Assembly to allow due process of law to take its course and not to overreach a matter that is already in court.
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Source: The Citizen
