Senator Ayogu Eze is Bornaventure Onu’s political godfather
Chairman of Igbo-Eze North Local government council Enugu State Mr. Bonaventure Onuh and his vice chairman of the
council Mr. Celestine Ezeugwu were on Monday impeached and removed from office on allegations of gross misconduct and embezzlement of public funds.
The Chairman and vice were yesterday impeached by sixteen out of the 20 councilors of the legislative arm of the council,
Their impeachment followed the recommendations of the seven man impeachment panel headed by Nestor Ezeme which was set up by the Chief Judge of Enugu State.
The Rainbow learnt that 16 0out od 20 councillors voted in favour of the impeachment of the chairman.
The leader of the legislative council Hon. Onyekachi Ugwu is to act as an interim chairman.
Ugwu while announcing the rsult of the impeachment process, directed the impeached chairman and his vice to
hand over properties of the council in their possession with immediate effect.
“Pursuant to S. 8 (14) of the local government law (cap 109) laws of Enugu state, we the undersigned councilors of Igbo-Eze North local government area hereby adopt the report of the seven man impeached panel set up by Hon. Chief judge of Enugu State and impeached the Chairman and vice Chairman of Igbo-Eze Norh LGA Mr. Bonaventure Onu and vice Chairman Celestine Ezeugwu. The above public officers hereby stand impeached,” he said.
The impeachment notice dated November 25, 2014 catalogued numerous infractions against the chairman and his vice, which the impeachment panel investigated and indicted them on most of the charges. The seven man panel was empowered under section [14] of the local government law, cap 109, laws of Enugu state.
The Chairman and Vice were indicted largely for non-implementation of 2014 budget of N 751,339.00 million, non-payment of approved compensation to Eke Ozzi land owners of N 70,000.000 and embezzlement of N237,203.985 approved for grading reconstruction of roads and bridges, which
was retired while nothing was recorded as the job done.
The duo were also indicted over N50,000.000.00 approved for Aji, Umuida, Onicha Enugu road, Ogurute, reconstruction of schools among others which has been retired but no job done.
The Chairman and vice were fast in retiring approved cash for projects without executing the said projects such as rural electrification N100,000.000.00; classroom blocks at Umueso, Ugbaike; Ijekpe, Ette; C.S. Umuid; Ofante, Umuogbo among other N20,000.000.00, provision of public toilets at Igbo Eze market N30,000.000.00; bore
holes and maintenance of old ones N30,000.000; health centers N25,000.000; supply of 150 bags of fertilizers to each of the 20 wards N17,000.000 and environmental improvement 2014 N30.000.000.
According to the report of the panel, all the cash mentioned had been retired while the jobs were not executed.
This development is seen in political circles as a blow to the senator Ayogu Eze, who was instrumental to the emergence of Onu as Chairmn of the local. It was not clear however if the removal of the chairman had anything to with Eze’s aspiration for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, which has pitched him against the minstream leadership of the party in the state.
