The inauguration ceremony of Dr. Samson Ogah as the new governor of Abia State was on Friday stalled by the absence of the state Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzoukwu.
Our correspondent learnt that the chief judge’s whereabouts became unknown following an injunction from the state high court restraining him from swearing in Ogah as the governor of the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Thursday issued Ogah a Certificate of Return, thereby nullifying the one earlier issued to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and paving the way for the swearing-in of the new governor.
The action, INEC said, was in obedience to an Abuja Federal High Court judgment ordering Ikpeazu to immediately vacate office.
In his ruling, Justice Okon Abang, had on Monday made a consequential order that Ikpeazu should vacates his office as Abia State Governor based on the allegation that he did not pay his tax for 2011, 2012 and 2013, as and when due, as a public officer.
However, the inauguration of the new governor could not take place because the state chief judge, who was supposed to have performed the function, was no where to be found.
Meanwhile, Ikpeazu has obtained an ex parte injunction issued by Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu of the state High Court, Osisioma, restraining the chief judge from swearing in Ogah.
Ikpeazu had in a statement insisted that he remained the governor of the state, appealing to the people of the state to remain calm.
Ogah, who arrived Umuahia from Abuja at about 5.45pm on Thursday was said to have headed straight to the office of the State Director of State Services, Korede Kamoju in Umuahia where he held a closed-door meeting with the DSS boss.
The meeting lasted until about 8.10pm.
Ogah left the DSS in a long motorcade, but could not be reached by the journalists, who had waited throughout the period of the meeting for his comments on the unfolding event in the state.
