A State High Court sitting in Lokoja has declared the impeachment of Elder Simon Achuba as Kogi State Deputy Governor illegal and unconstitutional.
Justice John Olorunfemi made the declaration, on Thursday, in a ruling he delivered in the case filed by Achuba against the Kogi State House of Assembly and others over his impeachment in October 2019, adding that the actions and subsequent nomination of another person to the office by the lawmakers is null and void.
Justice Olorunfemi described the action of the Kogi State House of Assembly as a constitutional coup, hatched and executed in a democracy. He stated that 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.
The Judge said the onus to produce the remaining volumes of the report purported to have indicted the former Deputy Governor rest with the defendants which they fail to do, pointing out that the 29 defendants also did not file a counter notice, described the process of removing the former deputy governor as not following due process.
