Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, on Wednesday slumped while testifying before the panel of enquiry that is investigating impeachable allegations levelled against him by the state House of Assembly.
The deputy governor had testified for
about three hours in his own defence when he suddenly complained of
dizziness and collapsed into his seat.
Onyebuchi’s wife, Nneka, and some of the
deputy governor’s aides, who were present at the sitting, were said to
have rushed to his aid and revived him before he was rushed to the
hospital.
His lawyer, Ogochukwu Onyekwuluje, said,
“What happened is that the deputy governor was giving evidence but at
some point he developed dizziness and had to be rushed to the hospital.
“They have diagnosed blood pressure and a medical report has been brought, showing the state of his health.
“He suddenly developed a high blood pressure.”
The panel, which initially adjourned its
sitting till 2pm as a result of the development, was unable to continue
again for the day as reports from the hospital indicated that Onyebuchi
had suffered from high blood pressure, and as a result, needed to rest.
Journalists were not in the courtroom
when the incident occurred because the panel had barred the press from
covering its proceedings.
Our correspondent learnt that Onyebuchi
slumped barely about five minutes after the Chief of Staff to Governor
Sullivan Chime, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, who is widely seen as Onyebuchi’s
major adversary, entered the courtroom in company with the state’s
Attorney-General, Mr. Anthony Ani, SAN.
Although Onyebuchi was accused of running
an illegal poultry, and allegedly refused to represent the governor at
official functions, there have been insinuations that his real offence
had been his intention to contest the Enugu East Senatorial Zone seat,
which is said to have been reserved for Nwobodo.
Nwobodo’s presence in the courtroom was in response to summons served on her on Tuesday by the panel.
As of the time of filing this report,
Onyebuchi’s condition was said to have been stabilised, having received
treatment at the undisclosed hospital but his lawyers were said to be
hopeful that the panel would shelve its sittings until next week to give
the embattled deputy governor enough time to recuperate.
The lawyers blamed their client’s failing health on the impeachment proceeding against him.
Onyekwuluje, who spoke to our correspondent, said that the impeachment proceeding had taken its toll on the deputy governor.
He said, “What we believe is that he
suffered some temporary dizziness; when he started he complained that he
was not feeling well and he was given a bottle of water.
“He was seated and was giving his
evidence slowly when he complained that he was not seeing very well and
was feeling dizzy; you can see him bending down.
“It was in the course of the evidence
that the chief of staff walked in with the attorney-general.For the past
one week he (Onyebuchi) has been coming here (before the panel),
running around trying to defend himself.
“This must be as a result of the stress
he was going through. He will not be fit to continue today (Wednesday),
if the panel agrees we will probably come back on Monday.”
Onyebuchi had denied the allegations brought against him by the lawmakers.
Onyebuchi was specifically accused of
running an illegal poultry in his official residence at the government
house, in spite of a resolution of the house of Assembly, forbidding
such action. He was also accused of refusal to represent Chime at
official functions, despite directives from the governor instructing him
to do so.
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