They Cannot Impeach Me - Chime

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State in eastern Nigeria
has described the threat of impeachment against him by
the state assembly as futile .
Reacting to the threats while briefing journalists in Enugu
on Tuesday, Chime said the assembly had not followed
constitutional procedures.
The governor said that the constitution required two -
thirds of the members to do so but that they did not meet
the number .
According to him, the state had 24 members in the
assembly and only 14 members , including the speaker ,
met to commence the impeachment proceedings.
He said the speaker should get at least 16 members of
the house to investigate the allegations against him.
“ As I am talking to you now , nobody has served me with
any notice of any impeachment , ” he said.
On allegations of financial misconduct , Chime said that
since assumption of office in 2007, the accounts of the
government had been audited and published annually till
2014 .
The governor said that the audited accounts and budgets
were given to the assembly and interested members of
the public.
He said that the allegation of forgery of 2012
supplementary budget was a rude shock as he only
reallocated funds through virement .
Chime explained that the assembly authorised the
government to obtain the loan of N 11 billion in November
2014 through its resolution which was communicated to
him.
“ Their resolution dated Nov. 13 , 2014 authorised the state
government to obtain loans of N 1 billion and N 10 billion
from UBA to refinance facilities at the GTB and for
infrastructural projects in the state , ’’ he said.
On concession of the water corporation, the governor said
that the government only engaged a company , AG Gold , to
help in water infrastructure after previous attempts by
three companies failed .
Chime explained that everything concerning water was in
the law , adding that the government had not gone
contrary to the law .
He alleged that the aggrieved legislators asked for
financial inducements which he refused to oblige.
NAN reports that the state assembly has been
factionalised , resulting to the planned impeachment of the
governor and the speaker , Mr Eugene Odo .