Ortom gets reprieve from impeachment process

The Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom Wednesday got momentary relieve as a Makurdi High Court ordered that the impeachment process initiated against him by eight members of the State House of Assembly be halted.

The court, presided over by Justice Theresa Igoche, also restrained the eight members from sitting while upholding their suspension pending the determination of the motion on notice.

It will be recalled that eight members of the Benue State House of Assembly, aided by security agencies, sat at the assembly complex and initiated the impeachment proceeding against the governor few days after he defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Read Also: Gov Tambuwal joins roll-call, dumps APC

While handing down the orders, Justice Ogoche said: “I agree with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria that the applicants have made out a case for the grant of orders sought therein.

“The order also restrains the Chief Judge of Benue state from receiving or acting on any process or request, issued pursuant to the purported sitting, proceedings and resolutions of 30th July, 2018 aimed at or commenced for the purpose of removing the Governor of the State pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”

The judge, who equally upheld an earlier order given by a different judge against the former Speaker and principal officers of the Assembly, also ordered security agencies to vacate the Assembly complex.

 

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