The Governor of Ebonyi state, Dave Umahi has rejected the ruling of an Abuja high court which sacked him from office.
Speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, Umahi said that the ruling should not be recognized by his followers.
He tagged the ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo of Abuja Federal High Court as “jungle justice that was purchased.”
According to him: “I am still the Governor of Ebonyi State and there is no tension at all. In the first place, there is no constitutional provision for any hatchet man to remove a governor.
There are three ways whereby a governor can vacate his office: it is either by death, resignation and impeachment. There is no other constitutional provision that empowers a hatchet man to turn the Constitution upside down.
I have listened to the judgement of Inyang Ekwo and it’s very obvious that he was on a mission. He was making all effort to upturn the rulings of the Appeal and Supreme Courts, on issues like this.
We have heard the rumours before now that he was determined to give judgement against all known laws and the Constitution, first to embarrass the APC, and to equally embarrass the Federal Government.
For me, I do not feel worried; but, I feel so bad for the judiciary in Nigeria. The executives may have problems; the legislature may have problems, but the moment justice could be purchased, then we are in trouble in Nigeria.
It’s obvious that the ruling this afternoon is clear evidence that this country is in trouble. And let me tell you, this same judge has over ten cases against the Ebonyi State Government with him. And you can imagine what he is going to rule.
We have petitioned him to NJC and we will follow it up to the end to ensure that this man (Ekwo) is brought to justice. I want you to disregard the judgement because it’s null and void.”
The judge had sacked Umahi and his deputy Dr. Kelechi Igwe from office over their unlawful defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ekwo stated that the governor and his deputy’s defection was unconstitutional, null, and void.
He consequently ordered that they vacate their positions with immediate effect.
