DAVID Umahi who was sacked on Tuesday by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has vowed that he remains the governor of Ebonyi State.
Asserting that the court has no power to remove him as governor, Umahi described the judgement as “jungle justice that was purchased” just as he also noted that it was not a good development for the Judiciary.
The Federal High Court, president over by His Lordship, the Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo, had earlier on Tuesday sacked Umahi and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe from office for defecting from the PDP to the APC and directed that the duo stop parading themselves as governor and deputy governor respectively.
The judge had also sacked over a dozen lawmakers on similar ground and directed INEC to conduct elections to fill the vacancies created by their removal.
At the press conference, Umahi said the judge lacks the power to sack him as governor because he is covered by immunity clause which protects him from any form of litigation that is not pre-election and tribunal matter.
He called on the people of the state to remain calm asserting that he remains the governor of the state as he was sure of quashing the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Umahi also revealed that he has already forwarded a petition against the presiding judge, Justice Ekwo, to the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Umahi also noted that there are two other similar cases on defection of a governor by an Ebonyi High Court and another in Zamfara which ruled in favour of the sitting governor.
“The Constitution stipulates that the only way whereby a governor can vacate his seat is either by death, resignation or impeachment by the House of Assembly. There is no other provision that empowers a hatchet man to turn the constitution upside down.
“I have listened to the judgement of Ekwo and it is very obvious that he was on a mission. He was making all efforts to upturn the rulings of the Appeal and Supreme courts on issues like this. We have heard the rumours before now that he was determined to give judgement against all known laws and the constitution to embarrass the APC and the federal government.
“For me I do not feel worried but I feel so sorry for the judiciary. The executive may have problem, the legislature may have problem but the moment justice could be purchased then we are in trouble in this country. And the ruling this afternoon is a clear evidence that this country is in trouble.
“And let me tell you that this same judge has over 10 cases against Ebonyi State Government with him and you can imagine what he is going to rule. We have petitioned him to NJC and we will follow it up to ensure that this man is brought to justice
“I want you to disregard the judgement, it is null and void; there is a subsisting judgement in Ebonyi and Zamfara states. So we have chosen the one to obey, we will not obey his ruling, we will obey the ruling of a competent court of coordinate jurisdiction that says you cannot sue a governor.
“The sections of the Constitution are very clear, no civil or criminal proceedings could be brought against a sitting governor. This is not a pre-election matter, this is not a tribunal matter. So he has murdered justice in this country and he and his generation will be remembered for this jungle justice which has no leg to stand. I am still the Governor of Ebonyi state and he has no powers to remove me,” Umahi said
The Governor also argued that the Judge lacks the powers to declare the seats of the House of Assembly members vacant. He said previous judgements have made it clear that it is only the presiding officer of the House of Assembly or the National Assembly that can do so.
