Chidi Samuel| The impeachment of Simon Achuba as the deputy governor of Kogi State by the house of assembly, in October last year was on Thursday declared null and void by a state high court in Lokoja.
At the resumed hearing of the case in Lokoja, the state capital, presiding judge, John Olorunfemi said Achuba’s removal from office by the Assembly is a violation of the constitution and the subsequent nomination of Edward Onoja as the deputy governor, did not follow due process.
The judge described the action of the Kogi State House of Assembly as a constitutional coup, hatched and executed in a democracy.
According to him, the action is contrary to Section 188 subsection 8, a section that stopped the Assembly from further action having discovered that the former deputy governor was not found wanting by the panel.
Justice Olurunfemi further avered that the onus to produce the remaining volumes of the report purported to have indicted the former deputy governor rest with the defendants which they failed to do.
He pointed out that the 29th defendants also did not file a counter-notice, describing the process of removing the former deputy governor as not following due process.
Achuba was impeached in October 2019 by members of the Kogi State House of Assembly but challenged his impeachment and sought for relief of the court to declare his impeachment as illegal and to be reinstated as the rightful deputy governor of the state.
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