BAYELSA DEP GOV CHALLENGES CONSTITUTION OF IMPEACHMENT PANEL

Embatled Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi, has filed a new suit challenging the constitution of the seven-man impeachment panel by the state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against him.

This is even as the case filed earlier challenging the impeachment process has been transferred from the judge handling it, Justice Naya Aganaba to another court.

According to one of his lawyers, Mr Dickens O Ejinyere , Ebebi was challenging the composition of the panel, which, he alleged, was made up of cronies of the governor and other government officials.

He disclosed that in the new suit, the chairman and members of the panel were defendants, while state commissioner of police (CP), the state chief judge, the panel members, the Speaker of the state Assembly, Clerk of the House, Assembly members and the attorney-general were also parties to the new suit.

Ejinyere explained that the document they were relying on was the brief of argument filed in the Court of Appeal by Denwigwe (SAN) of which the governor was the 4th respondent. He also disclosed that the case which was filled at the High Court 3 last Friday had been transferred to another court. No reason was given for the transfer.

Daily Sun investigations, however, revealed that it might not be unconnected to a petition allegedly written by pro-impeachment lawmakers asking for a transfer of the case. Meanwhile, a group, Movement for Active Democracy and Good Governance for Jonathan and Sambo (MADGGJS), 2011 had expressed fears that the impeachment panel could not guarantee justice as it was acting out the script of those who wanted Ebebi out by all means.