Date Published: 09/26/09

Imo: Separation of Power under serious threat

A Socio/Political group based in Owerri the Imo State Capital, Imo Democratic Congress says studies it commissioned on the workings of three arms of government in Imo state shows there is apparent desire on the part of Ikedi Ohakim led executive to gain control of the entire power in Imo state with the justice system on priority list just to achieve a selfish mission. According to the Group’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Maximus Uba, the Report: Judiciary, Legislative under siege; a report of the Rule Law of in Imo State focused particular attention on the current threat to independence of the Legislature and the Judiciary in Imo State by the Executive arm of government. The statement of the group read in part “The attention of Imo state people have been drawn to the inappropriate executive interference in the activities of other two arms of government viz the judiciary and the legislature, on this score IDC then commissioned an independent study whose report show that indeed there is veiled and masked attempt by the executive to emasculate the other two arms of government for selfish ends and we say it here that this development is a negation of the principles of separation of powers and therefore stands condemned .The Congress therefore calls upon the Ikedi Ohakim led administration to look into the said report, a copy of which has been mailed to the Attorney General of the State Mr. Ken Njemanze (SAN) and see to it that not only the rule of law is restored in the state but that the principles of separation of power as propagated by Baron Montesquieu is followed rigidly .It will be recalled that since 2008, spirited efforts have been made by the executive arm in Imo State to arm twist both the Judiciary and Legislature, culminating in Imo Democratic Congress, a development focused political pressure group to commission a study in that regard. The report if considered and implemented by the Imo State government will go a long way into ensuring the restoration of the rule of law which has taken flight since Mr Ohakim assumed office as Governor in 2007.