The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has welcomed the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holding its national conference in Owerri the state capital with litany of Governor Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha’s abuses of rule of law, court judgments and due process.
In a press release signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Chief Enyinna Onegbu and made available to Community Watchdog, the party stated that its “lack of enthusiasm for this otherwise August assemblage of Lawyers in Imo State is predicted on the fact of the unenviable record of Governor Okorocha as a serial contemnor and abuser of the rule of law, due process, extent court judgments and rulings”.
Pointing out such instances of the abuses as: “the proposed venue of the conference, erroneously called Imo International Conference Centre is located on land belonging to a private corporate citizen called G. Plaza Hotels Ltd which it had leased from the previous owners legitimately. Governor Okorocha had before becoming governor bided to acquire that property through NDIC and lost. He upon becoming governor trespassed into the land, destroyed existing structures and started the construction of this conference centre. The corporate citizen filed an action against the Imo State government at the High Court of Imo State Owerri Division. The court determined the suit in favour of the claimant. Yet Okorocha refused to obey the judgment but continued the construction and today is in trespass.
“Also Governor Okorocha, a few days after his inauguration, in a manner reminiscent of the military governors of old, unconstitutionally dissolved the elected Local Government Administration in Imo State. The matter was eventually determined by the Court of Appeal Owerri division in Suit No. CA/295/2011 between Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu & 26 others Vs Imo State & 4 others, with an order reinstating the illegally sacked local government administration into office and payment of their entitlements. In the judgment the court held that the 2nd Respondent (Gov of Imo State) therefore lacks constitutional powers to dissolve the 27 democratically elected Local Government Councils wherein Appellants herein are Chairmen, the Governor swore to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and not to mutilate it.
“Till date the Okorocha administration refuses to obey the judgment and runs the constitutional third tier level of government with illegal transition committees at his whims and caprices hence that grassroot level of government is dead in Imo State yet huge federation allocations for 27 LGAs are received by Okorocha’s administration monthly.
Furthermore, Okorocha’s administration has maliciously destroyed residences of Imo people and revoked title lands without notice and compensation that incurred hundreds of litigation against his administration that were unprecedented in the history of Imo State.
Coupled with the sacking of the 10,000 Imo State Youths Ohakim administration had previously employed through the state Civil Service Commission which the litigation is also pending at the industrial court. But for Okorcha, rather than obey court judgments, frivolous appeals are filed to frustrate the judgment creditors.
“In a more celebrated matter, HRM, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, CON, Chairman of Imo State and indeed South-East Councils of Traditional Rulers recently obtained a Court of Appeal judgment affirming his status and revoking his earlier removal from office by Governor Okorocha. In utter disobedience to the court judgment and injunctions issued, the Imo State governor not only purported to remove him as traditional ruler of his community but has also contrived and imposed a new traditional ruler on the community.
In the case of HRH Eze Cosmas Onyeneke of Lagwa Okwuato Autonomous Community, despite a court of injunction restraining the governor, he has also purportedly de-recognized the respected traditional ruler and appointed an impostor.
Concluding, the party prayed thus: “It is in light of the above, that we urged the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to remove, the moral and legal burden negatively overshadowing this National Conference in Owerri by adopting a resolution condemning the endemic disobedience and flagrant disrespect to the Rule of Law and court judgments by the outgoing Okorocha administration, only this will assuage Imolites and Nigerians that there was no compromise ab initio”.
