- Says judgment was bought, boasts he is going nowhere
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Tuesday berated the Nigerian judiciary and Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja which sacked him, his deputy and 17 other members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, boasting that he is going nowhere.
Stating that since the court decision is subject to appeal, he will surely exploit the option.
Governor Umahi said in reaction to the judgment in Abakaliki declared that he remains the Governor of Ebonyi State, sneering the judgment of Justice Ekwo which rendered his office and that of his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe a nullity for swapping political parties.
Saying that the judgment was purchased, the Governor said he was not surprised that the Judge delivered the judgment in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “Ekwo was charged and needed to discharge.”
Umahi told journalists that Justice Ekwo was on a mission to embarrass the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the federal government, saying, “I feel sorry for the Nigerian judiciary.
“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’s 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 judgment 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 had heard the rumours before now that he was determined to give judgment 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 executive 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 a clear evidence that this country is 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 judgment, because it’s null and void.”