Just In: Abia State Chief Judge 'Goes Missing' Over Swearing-in of Uche Ogah as Governor

According to a report on Premium Times, the absence of the Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzoukwu, has stalled the expected swearing-in of Uche Ogah as the new governor of the state, today in Umuahia, the Abia state capital.

The inauguration could not take place because it was learnt that the state chief judge, who was supposed to have performed the function, was nowhere to be found.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier on Thursday, issued Uche Ogah aCertificate of Return, thus withdrawing the one that was earlier issued to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and paved the way for the swearing-in of Ogah.

INEC said its action was in compliance with an Abuja Federal High Court judgment ordering Okezie Ikpeazu to immediately vacate office.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ikpeazu has obtained an ex parte injunction issued by Justice Chibuzor Ahuchaogu of the Abia State High Court in Osisioma, restraining the chief judge from swearing in Uche Ogah.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uche Ogah, who arrived at Umuahia from Abuja at about 5.45 p.m yesterday, headed straight to the office of the State Director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Umuahia, where he held a closed-door marathon meeting with the State Director, Korede Kamoju. The meeting lasted till about 8.10 p.m.

Uche Ogah left the SSS 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 political development in the state.