The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Tuesday, May 13, 2014 suffered another legal defeat in the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, as the Court unanimously rejected his application to stay its judgment delivered on July 5, 2013 reinstating HRH Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ilomuanya as the Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze.
Delivering the judgment, the Presiding judge (PJ), Hon. Justice Raphael Agbo, noted that the Court was convinced and satisfied with the arguments of Eze Ilomuanya’s Counsel, Obiora Obianwu, SAN, represented by Ogbonna Ajuzie, Esq., stressing that the three man panel of Justices were unanimous in their decision that the application be struck out. He stated that evidences abound to prove that the Attorney General of Imo State and the Governor were aware of the Court proceeding but they chose to abandon the case at the crucial moment.
With this development, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya whom pundits have described as the proverbial cat with nine lives, remains the undisputed Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze. This is the second time he is defeating Governor Okorocha at the Court of Appeal and the fourth in all cases he instituted against the Governor.
When contacted on phone about the latest judgment of the Court of Appeal, Eze Ilomuanya’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Eweama described the victory as an act of God and a vindication of the fact that “one with God is majority”. He stated that Eze Ilomuanya is a firm believer in equity, Justice and the rule of law, adding that despite all provocations, the monarch has always conducted himself in a responsible man.
“We are hereby once again appealing to His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha to live up to what he is preaching in the Imo State’s anthem usually recited over the state owned radio, Orient FM that – Rule of Law must reign in Imo State, corruption must go and education must be free. We must be not just preachers of the gospel but doers of what we preach. We thank God for the Nigerian Judiciary which is the last hope of the oppressed and common man”, Eweama averred.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, had on Friday, July 5, 2013, reinstated Eze Ilomuanya, who is also the Chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers, as Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze. Attempts made by the monarch to resume duties at the Council’s Secretariat in Owerri on September 16th 2013, were frustrated by the Governor’s agents, including Eze Samuel Ohiri, who is now facing impersonation charge at an Owerri High Court for claiming to be Chairman Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze. They had claimed that the Governor had filed an application for stay of Execution of the judgment.
With this development, analysts are watching to see the excuse Governor Okorocha will adduce for disobeying the Court of Appeal Judgment again.
