Court nullifies Okorocha’s former deputy’s impeachment after eight years

An Owerri High Court on Monday nullified the impeachment of former deputy governor of Imo State Jude Agbaso.

Imo House of Assembly impeached Mr Agbaso on March 28, 2013 on allegations that he collected N458 million and red label drink as bribes from a construction firm, J- pros.

Justice I. S Opara said he was giving the consent judgment since the parties — Agbaso, the state governor, the assembly and the state’s chief judge — had opted to settle out of court.

The party filed the terms of settlements before the court on February 2, according to Agbaso’s lawyer Chijioke Emeka.

Briefing journalists after the court session, Mr Emeka said the consent judgment had nullified the impeachment of his client.

The counsel said the judgment had restored his client’s entitlements as a former deputy governor of the state and had been legally fit to hold public positions again.

Agbaso, who was in court, told journalists that he felt elated to be “vindicated” eight years after he was accused of being involved in fraud.

He accused his former boss Rochas Okorocha of intentionally framing him up “just to get me out of the way.”