Enugu Rescue Group
Press Statement
We wish to totally disagree with the Government of Enugu State on the June 18, 2014 judgment delivered by Her Lordship, Justice (Mrs.) C.I Nwobodo of the Enugu State High Court, which declared the removal of Chief (Mrs.) Ethel Nebo-Ezeabasili from office as the Chairman, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board as illegal and unconstitutional.
We frown at its notice of appeal regarding the N10 Million in damages and N100,000 prosecution cost awarded by the Court in favour of Mrs. Nebo-Ezeabasili against the State Government i.
While we uphold the constitutional right of the State Government to appeal the judgment, we find the grounds of the appeal, by law, to be highly wishy-washy, a mere damage control stunt, waste of public funds, and a clear attempt at buying time.
The notice of appeal therefore is simply another reminder that when you fight corruption, corruption also fights back.
Nigerians should note that the judgment in question was delivered by the Enugu State High Court. In Nigeria of today, we do not see how a judge of a State High Court could indict a government that pays her salaries and has so many avenues of hitting back at her if she did not clearly see and was convinced that the Chime Administration had acted illegally, unconstitutionally, and with impunity as usual.
We believe Mrs. Nebo-Ezeabasili that the reason the State Government unleashed its armada of coercion and witch-hunt on her remains her principled stand against awarding 583 contracts worth billions of naira to just three handpicked companies- in breach of the Procurement Act, Universal Basic Education Commission Guidelines, and due process.
We know by the antecedents of Governor Chime’s second tenure that all elements, including the Church, political class, labour, and even our former First Lady, Mrs. Clara Chime, who disagreed with the actions and ways of Governor Chime; his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo; and other members of his kitchen cabinet have always been met with highhandedness.
In conclusion, the court of public opinion adjudges and extols Her Lordship, Justice C.I Nwobodo as a sound, courageous, incorruptible, and unwavering judicial officer. We recommend her courage and principled life to other justices of various State judiciaries to end the reign of impunity by Governors and their foot soldiers.
Indeed, we reiterate that the Enugu State Government is merely pulling at straws to save it’s face because it has no absolutely no case against Mrs. Ethel Nebo-Ezeabasili or the judgment delivered by its own High Court
Comrade Martin Okenwa
Publicity Secretary
Enugu Rescue Group
Dated this 2nd July, 2014
