Umahi wails, ‘Nigeria in trouble’, calls judge hatchet man

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State who was sacked from office Tuesday, by the order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has declared that he is still in office and accused Justice Inyang Ekwo of attempting to embarrass the All Progressives Congress (APC).

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM reports that Umahi, his deputy and about 17 members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly all of who decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC in 2020, were sacked by the court and asked to refund monies earned from the day they cross-carpeted.

Speaking at a press conference in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi, Umahi accused the PDP of procuring the judgment.

Obviously angered by the judgment, Umahi fumed: “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.

READ: Umahi’s defection to APC gets messier; Anyim writes Buhari alleges threat to life

“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 have 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 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 10 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.”