Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Tuesday said that the Justice Inyang Ekwo-led Federal High Court sitting in Abuja lacks powers to sacks him.
Umahi alleged that Ekwo has been bought over by the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP).
Recalled that the court, in a judgment that was delivered by Ekwo, held that the total number of 393,042 votes Umahi secured during the March 9, 2019, governorship election in Ebonyi State belongs to the PDP and same could not be legally transferred to the APC and thereby sacked the governor from office.
The governor said, “There is no constitutional provision for any hatchet man to remove a governor. 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 other constitutional provision the governor can be removed.
“It takes a hatchet man to turn the law and the constitution upside down. I have listened to the judgement of Ekpo and it is very obvious that he was on a mission. He was making all efforts to upturn the ruling of the supreme court and appeal court on issues like this.
“We have heard the rumours before now that he was determined to give judgement against all known laws and the constitution. First to embarrass APC, two to embarrass the federal government.
“For me, I do not feel worried. I feel so sorry for the judiciary. The executive may have problems, the legislature may have problems too, but the moment justice could be purchased then we are in trouble in this country.
“Then the ruling this afternoon shows that this country is in trouble. And let me tell you that this same judge has over ten 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 at all costs to ensure that this man is brought to justice.
“I want you to disregard the judgement. It is null and void. There is a subsisting judgement in Zamfara date and there is also a judgement in Ebonyi State. We have chosen the one to obey. We will not obey his ruling. We will obey the ruling of a competent court of equal level that says you cannot sue a governor.
“The section of the constitution is very clear. No criminal or civil proceedings are to be brought before a sitting governor. This is not a preelection matter; this is not a tribunal matter, and so he has murdered justice in this country and he will be remembered by his generation for this jungle justice which has no leg to stand.
“I am still the governor of Ebonyi State and he has no powers to remove me. But let me say to the nation. There is a need to look at the integrity of the judiciary because of the judiciary begins to rule on constitutional matters that are well laid down, then the citizens of this country may decide not to obey the jungle justice.
“He thought he has embarrassed me but he has not because I already have a judgment in my favour and he has no powers to remove me. My office is my office. He is wasting his bloody time. I believe he was influenced.”
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