The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has said he won’t obey the court ruling that sacked him from office, describing the judgment as a sham.
Umahi, while reacting to his removal as the governor of Ebonyi by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, alleged that the judgment was “purchased”.
He criticised the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo for allegedly delivering the judgment to embarrass the All Progressives Congress (APC), the state government as well as the federal government.
Umahi who made known while briefing journalists in his office at the new Government House, Abakaliki, described the ruling as as a bad development for the judiciary sector of the country.
He further urged the people of the State to remain calm as he was sure of quashing the ruling at the Appeal Court on the grounds that the court lacks the powers to remove him as Governor as he is covered by immunity clause which protects him from any form of litigation that is not pre-election or tribunal matter.
In his words, “There are three ways whereby a governor can vacate his seat, it is either by death, resignation or impeachment by the House of Assembly. There is no any other constitutional provision that empowers a hatchet man to turn the constitution and the law upside down. I have listened to the judgment of Ekwo, and it’s very obvious that he was on a mission.
“He was making all efforts to upturn the rulings of the Supreme Court and Appeal court on issues like this. We have heard the rumors before now that he was determined to give judgment aganist all known laws and the Constitution, first to embarrass APC, two to embrass the federal government.
“For me, I do not feel worried but I feel so sorry for the judiciary. The executive may have problems the legislature may have problems but the moment that justice could be purchased then we’re in trouble in this country. And the ruling this afternoon is a clear evidence that this country is in trouble. Let me tell you that this same judge as over 10 cases against the Ebonyi State governments with him and you can imagine what is going to rule. We petitioned him to NJC, and we will we follow it at all cost to ensure that this man is brought to justice.
“I want you to disregard the judgment, it is null and void, there is a subsisting judgement in Zamfara state and that is also a judgment in Ebonyi state. So we’ve chosen the one to obey and we will not obey his ruling(Ekwo), we will obey the ruling of a competent courts of a equal level that says you cannot sue a governor.
“The sections of the constitution are very clear, no civil or criminal proceedings could be brought against a sitting government. This is not a pre-election matter, this is not a tribunal matter and so he has murdered justice in this country,” he added.
