The Imo State High Court has been asked to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, from contesting the election.
This was coming at a time Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, said he is solidly behind Uzodinma’s quest to be governor.
In a suit filed by Ugochukwu Njoku and Ikechukwu Anele, the Good Governance Association, Imo State chapter said Uzodinma has not cleared himself from alleged issuance of N200 million dud cheque, which culminated in the issue of warrant for his arrest by the Bwari Area Court.
Also, the group said the governorship candidate was indicted by the Special Presidential Investigative Panel over alleged unexecuted Federal Government contract worth $12. 5 million, which also led to the issue of warrant of arrest against him. The group said if Senator Uzodinma is allowed to contest, he would no longer answer to the charges if he wins, as he would enjoy immunity.
In the warrant of arrest from the Bwari Area Court, attached to the originating summons, Justice Muhammad Abdulwahab, on September 18, 2018, directed the Inspector General of Police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest Uzodinma.
Also exhibited are two letters dated October 29, 2018, and November 12 2018, by the judge, addressed to the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the chairman of Special Presidential Investigation Panel, for the arrest of Senator Uzodinma as well as the dud cheque of N200 million he issued through his company to Chima Akuzie.
The court papers also contain the record of court proceedings, where it was reported that Uzodinma went to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court and filed a motion for judicial review of the warrant of arrest.
Meanwhile, Madumere has said he is backing Uzodinma for governor because he is the only candidate who has the capacity and sincerity of purpose to stop Governor Rochas Okorocha from turning the state into his family business.
Speaking at a fund raising dinner for Uzodinma by Oru West political leaders, Madumere said he was one of those who convinced the governorship candidate to contest when he realised he was the only person with the capacity and sincerity to stop Okorocha’s tyranny and liberate Imo people from his clutches.
“When I realised I didn’t have what it would take to stop governor Okorocha from imposing his son-in-law on Imo people, I approached Uzodinma to contest, but he refused and said I had suffered enough and deserved to become the governor, and that he would support me, as an Owerri man, to take over from Okorocha.
“I told him that my personal interest was secondary and that what mattered was how to liberate Imo State from the governor, who wants to turn the state into his family business. I believe the strategy is to use an Orlu man to remove an Orlu tyrant.”
The deputy governor added that it took sometime for him to convince Uzodinma, adding that when he finally did, he extracted from him the commitment that he will support him all the way.