Nwafor, Abia Deputy Gov, Survives Impeachment
By 'Deji Elumoye and Joseph Ushigiale
Reprieve has finally come the way of the embattled Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chief Chima Nwafor following the resolve of the Abia State House Assembly to halt the impeachment process initiated against him. He was however found guilty as charged by a panel that investigated his complicity in alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih was threatening to eliminate the state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.
In resolving to drop the allegations and subsequent impeachment process against Nwafor, the lawmakers in a six-point letter, signed by the clerk and sent to the governor, yesterday said it was adopting an "appeal to the Speaker to temper justice with mercy, considering the various appeals made to the House by people from all works of life including President Olusegun Obasanjo, National Chairman of PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Oba of Benin and the candid efforts of Your Excellency."
In the correspondence, the lawmakers said the decision to forgive Nwafor was "in view of the implicit respect and unparraled regards we have for Obasanjo, who appealed to the House through the governor to forgive his deputy; and in view of a similar appeal from Vice President Atiku Abubakar through the governor."
The lawmakers said its position is informed by "the tenacity and sense of responsibility of the governor, who genuinely, persistently and consistently persuaded, appealed and prevailed on members of the House to forgive Nwafor" and that "the intervention of Chief Audu Ogbeh, who appealed that justice be tampered with mercy."
According to them, "the need to cement and consolidate the peaceful settlement of the past misunderstanding between our governor and Anenih brokered by the highly revered Royal father, Oba Erediuawa and the intervention of the leadership of the clergy including Elder Eunice Uzor Kalu, the Abia State House of Assembly hereby resolve that the Deputy Governor is pardoned."
The Assembly recalled that it had in a letter with reference AHA/3/AD/S.8//1/55 of June 18, 2004, notified the governor of its intention to remove Nwafor from office. They added that "pursuant to the provisions of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, the matter was referred to the Chief Judge of the state who constituted a panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against Nwafor."
According to the House, "during its sitting yesterday, the House received a Resolution signed by 17 members adopting the Report of the Panel which found Nwafor guilty as charged by the State Assembly."
It, however, stated that "the Resolution on its page 5 contains an appeal to the speaker to temper justice with mercy, considering the various appeals made to the House by people from all works of life including Obasanjo, Ogbeh, Oba of Benin and the governor."
The panel set-up to investigate Nwafor had in its recommendations, said "the lies told by Nwafor led to insecurity of lives of government officials as these lies bordered on the threat to life of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu; these lies and the tensions it has generated was viewed as an act of gross misconduct."
However, yesterday, when the Assembly met, two-third of members passed a motion resolving that "in accordance with the provisions of Section 188 (9) of the 1999 Constitution, we append our signatures and adopt the panel's report, which has found Nwafor guilty." They however, added that "he should be allowed to continue in office as deputy governor."
It would be recalled that few months ago, shortly after the murder of Chief Aminasoari Dikibo, Kalu had alleged plans by Anenih to deal with him on account of his alleged critical position on Anenih's tenure as Minister of Works when no impact was felt even after over N30b was expended on roads rehabilitation nationwide.
Kalu, in a letter to Obasanjo said his deputy, Nwafor had intimated him through a memorandum, of the alleged threat to his (Kalu) life.
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