A panel of enquiry will today (Wednesday) begin investigation into stories leveled against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi. The panel will act its proceedings inside one of the gathering rooms on the office of the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice A. I. Umezulike, at the headquarters of the state High Court. Justice Umezulike constituted the seven-man panel up on Tuesday, for the commencement of impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor by members of the state House of Assembly.
Onyebuchi was accused of running an illegal poultry in his official residence at the Government House, and also refusing to represent Governor Sullivan Chime at official functions, despite directives from the governor instructing him to do so.The panel of enquiry, which was inaugurated by the CJ in his chambers, is headed by Mr. Oraeke Franklin, and has Pastor Uruakanwa Okoh, Elder Nnamdi Onyenwulu, Barrister Maxwell Eze, Mrs Praise Anyim, Aro Perfecta and Anthony Iguh, as members.The panel’s deliberation is to be based on The Rules made by the House of Assembly, pursuant to section 188 (7) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.In a short address while inaugurating the panel, the CJ said he was “under a constitutional obligation” to set up a committee to investigate the allegations brought against Onyebuchi.He explained that members of the panel were selected because of their integrity and urged them to live up to expectations as their activities during the period “would be monitored with a detective’s eye.”Justice Umezulike said, “I need here to remind you that the constitutional or democratic history of Enugu State would never be complete without a chapter of the functions you are about to perform.“I therefore urge you to perform this function in a manner that would elicit commendation rather than condemnation from legal and constitutional minds.”Speaking on behalf of the panel, Oraeke assured the CJ that they would discharge the function without fear or favour.
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