February 27, 2015 – The Ebonyi State House of Assembly today passed a motion to impeach, Governor of the state, Mr. Martin Elechi over allegation of corruption and gross misconduct.
Reading the motion, Majority Leader of the House, Francis Nwifruru accused the governor of undermining the integrity of the house and committing fraudulent acts.
The house had on Wednesday set up a panel to investigate allegations of financial misappropriation against the governor and some of his aides.
In one of the petitions submitted by the Ebonyi Integrity Group, it was alleged that the state governor, his son, Elechi Elechi, as well as his cronies and aides inflated contract sums and diverted public funds for private use.
The also alleged that the governor’s appointment of 28 persons for development sector coordination without prior confirmation by simple majority of the House was a clear violation of procedure.
They also accused the governor of appointing and inaugurating 18 chairmen and caretaker committees and appointed chairmen of members of Local government committees, Independent Electoral Commission, Secretaries to Basic Education Board and others without prior confirmation of the House as violation of House procedure and the constitution.
So far Odefa Odefa, a member of the house representing Onicha South has been appointed by the Speaker, to head the investigation.
Meanwhile, Elechi had accused politicians of plotting to oust him from office.
“They said I’m a bad person and that if I continue to remain in power they will not have their way of ruling the state. All I can say is that if they sack me, I will relocate to my home,” Elechi told a group of youths earlier on.
