BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
Following the refusal of the embattled chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra state Lady Ann C Chukwuneke to appear before the panel setup to investigate the allegation levelled against her over gross misconduct within a stipulated time frame the legislative arm of the council today 21 November 2014 impeached the executive chairman and sworn in the the deputy Hon Alex Egbuna Achebe.
The impeachment which was done in legislative chamber of the council received two third support comprising 12 members out of the 17 councillors of the local government.
The speaker of the house Hon. Emeka Akanegbu who initiated the impeachment process during their today’s sitting stated that a 21,one day ultimatum was given to the embattled chairman requesting her to appear before s panel setup by Anambra state Judiciary to clear her self out of the allegation but the ultimatum has expired today still the chairman never showed up , an action indicating that she was guilty of the offence.
Shortly after the comments, the house moved a motion for impeachment citing by law of the local council. The total of 12 members present voted against Lady Chukwuneke and she was immediately impeached.
Consequently the deputy Hon Egbuna was sworn in as the new Chairman by the house clark Hon Clement Chigbata
In a related development, the impeached Chairman Lady Chukwuneke had earlier on 20 November 2014 got a court injunction from the Fedral High court at Awka restraining impeachment process and as well restraining any other person from parading him or her self as a new Chairman of the council. The suit No : F H C/Awka/CS/ 243/14 between the application Lady Chukwuneke and 25 respondents including the speaker Hon Akanegbu and others was filed on 20th November 2014 while the motion was granted and issued at Awka under the seal of the court and hand of the presiding judge this 21 day of November 2014.
