Mr Amarachi Iwuanyanwu, the Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly has been Impeached by members of the House.
Mr Iwuanyanwu, who is representing Nwangele Local Government Area is also of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, in the state.
His impeachment followed a resolution of the house at its Tuesday plenary in Owerri, amidst very tight security around the Assembly complex.
The resolution for Mr Iwuanyanwu removal was submitted by the member representing Orlu Local Government Area, Ekene Nnodim. The resolution was signed by 18 out of the 27 lawmakers of the HOA.
No reason for the impeachment was given by the speaker, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem while reading the resolution for the removal of his deputy.
Meanwhile, a resolution for the recalling of the six suspended lawmakers was adopted by the house. The lawmakers were suspended on July 8 for 'unparliamentary conduct'.
This followed the adoption of the report of its ad hoc committee set up to investigate the allegations at the committee of the whole house.
The suspension which took place on July 8 had caused panic at the plenary as sporadic gunshots rent the air before the Speaker was smuggled out by his security aides. It subsequently attracted wide condemnation from the people of the state.
But on October 6, a suit challenging the suspension, was struck out by a court in Owerri, the state capital. The suit was struck out after his clients and the House of Assembly leadership had reached a consensus.
The lawmakers included-Dominic Ezerioha (APC-Oru West), Uche Ogbuagu (APC-Ikeduru), Philip Ejiogu (PDP -Owerri North), Anyadike Nwosu (PDP- Ezinihitte), Kennedy Ibeh (APC-Obowo) and Michael Njoku (APC -Ihitte Uboma).
The speaker commended members of the house who deemed it necessary to bring back the suspended lawmakers.
Rt. Hon. Emeziem also commended the suspended lawmakers for remaining law-abiding throughout the period of their suspension.
He urged them to remember that the house was an institution of authority that would remain for generations to come.
He thanked the state Governor, Gov. Hope Uzodinma for being instrumental in resolving the impasse in the Assembly.
Efforts to reach the Deputy Speaker were not successful as he did not take or return calls, but, one of his media aides who pleaded anonymity said that the Speaker is playing opposition politics in the Assembly with PDP to impeach the incumbent Governor.
He said "The Speaker was bribed with $300,000 (Three hundred thousand dollars) or N168 million (One hundred and sixty eight million naira) by power mongers in the leadership echelon of the PDP in Imo State, their summary aim is allegedly to commence the impeachment process against the Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma before the end of the year, 2021".
He assured that justice will prevail very soon as the DSP is working on a response
