Ebonyi Governor Faces Early Exit From Power

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Constitutionally, the days of the Governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi are numbered but the days could be made shorter as the State House of Assembly has agreed to serve an impeachment notice on the governor.

His crime? He is being accused of corruption and gross misconduct

The motion for the notice to be served on the governor was approved after the acting Majority Leader of the House, Francis Nwifruru, on Friday read details accusing the governor of undermining the integrity of the House and committing fraudulent acts.

The assembly had, on February 18, set up a panel to investigate allegations of financial misappropriation against the governor and some of his aides.

The assembly took the decision following petitions it received from groups in the state, including Ebonyi Integrity Group.

In one of the petitions, the governor; his son, Elechi Elechi; and Edward Nkwegu, among others, were accused of contract inflation and illegal use of state funds for private gains.

Before the probe panel was constituted, the House Leader, Ikechukwu Ogbu, had read the alleged petitions written against the governor on the floor of the assembly.

The petitions were adopted through a motion sponsored by Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, the member representing Izzi West State constituency. In his contribution, the Minority Leader, Enyi Enyi, described the allegations against Governor Elechi as shocking, adding that the governor risked impeachment if found guilty.

Other lawmakers who spoke urged the assembly to invoke all its constitutional powers to deal with the issue. They, however, pointed out that those accused would be given the opportunity to defend themselves. Shortly after debates on the petitions were concluded, the Speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku, called for a voice vote and members unanimously agreed that the governor be investigated.

The assembly, thereafter set up a special panel headed by Odefa Odefa, the member representing Onicha South, to further investigate the allegations and report its findings to the assembly.

The speaker noted that the essence of the special committee was to do a thorough investigation on the allegations against the governor.

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