Bayelsa deputy governor impeached

The Next's Ayo Okulaja

June 24, 2010 04:29PM

The deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Peremobowei Ebebi, has been impeached by the State House of Assembly with 18 out of the 24 members, including the Speaker, voting in support of his impeachment.

The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the investigative panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge, Kate Abiri, to look into some allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor.

However, a Yenagoa High Court has fixed June 29 to determine its jurisdiction in the suit challenging the impeachment notice served on Mr. Ebebi.

Prior to the impeachment, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Werinipre Seibarugu, announced at the plenary, that the report had been submitted to the House. The motion to adopt the report was moved by Jonathan Obuebite, representing Nembe Constituency I.

Speaking to journalists after the session, the chairman of the house committee on information, Benson Kombowei, stated that the impeachment process was carried out by the House in line with due process.

“We adopted the report because the panel found the allegations levelled against Ebebi to be true, especially items one and nine of the 10-count allegations,” he added.

Mr. Ebebi has being in an estranged battle with his boss, the state governor, Timipre Sylva, in the last one year.