BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

…As CJ fails to swear in panelists
OWERRI — The impeachment process of Imo State Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, suffered a huge setback, Tuesday, following the inability of the state Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Benjamin Ahanonu Njemanze, to swear-in the panelists as planned.

Although all the panelists were present in the Chief Judge’s court hall for the swearing-in, Justice Njemanze did not, however, go on with the exercise as the matter was pending in another court.

Vanguard recalls that Justice Njemanze had, last weekend, constituted a seven-member judicial panel, headed by Justice G. Ihekire, to investigate allegation of misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso.

Other members of the panel include Vin Onyeka, Egeonu Mere, Elder Humphrey Ajaelu, Mrs. Cecilia Chinyere Oladimeji, James Gozie Nze and Okparaku Nwarie.

Apart from the letter he received from the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Njemanze also hinged his action pursuant to Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and other laws enabling him in that behalf.

Agbaso was accused, among other things, of trying to enrich himself as well as cause JPROS International to transfer N458 million in two installments to two different bank accounts, on the promise of award of two 15-kilometre road contract in the state’s rural roads construction programme.

The deputy governor was told that the payment led to the abandonment of the execution of the contract by the contractor for lack of funds, especially when Agbaso was unable to award the new contracts.