I am innocent:Enugu deputy Governor cries out

Enugu Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, yesterday, at the State High Court Complex, where the panel investigating allegations against him is sitting, told newsmen that he is innocent of impeachment allegations against him.The deputy governor who sat throughout yesterday in company with his wife, said not only him, but the members of the Assembly and the country’s democracy were on trial, insisting that he was out to prove his innocence even if he was eventually impeached.

Said he: “I believe the chief judge of the state exercised his constitutional authority to set up the seven-man panel. I believe that eventually, justice will triumph. It is true that I am the one standing trial but also I want to say that our democracy is also on trial. I want to say also that justice is on trial and I want to say that integrity of all those involved, including that of the panel members are also on trial.

“I believe that no matter how we are able to fabricate lies and try to manipulate truth and embellish what happened and what did not happen, eventually if not now, later the truth will triumph over falsehood.

“It is a situation where the person on the floor, who is stepped on, who is being marched, did not complain, rather the person marching him is the one complaining. All the birds were removed from the poultry in question on January 27 and some of you witnessed it. Till now, I did not ask anybody what happened to it; whether they were sold, eaten or whatever happened, I never complained.

“Rather, the person who took my birds is the one complaining but I am confident. I believe it is a straight-forward case. I believe I have not committed any crime; I believe that I am here because it is better to defend myself and protect my hard-earned reputation and my integrity; that is more important to me than the office of the deputy governor.

“I do not mind loosing the office but let the public know that I did not commit any crime. I did not commit any offence that will justified my being removed and I am prepared to accept even being removed in the process of letting the people know the truth. Let you people, the journalists, let the people of Enugu State, the people of Nigeria be the judge as to how honourabe the honourable members…

“I do not want to start saying things about them but let the people be the judge on how honourable they have been and I believe that eventually, I will triumph because the most important thing is that there is a court of man, there is a panel of man but there is also a court of God, where nobody can change the truth. The God, who sees what is hidden will also give His verdict at the appropriate time.

“I want to commend the panel for listening to the protest of my lawyer because when we came in the morning they announced that they did not want media coverage but my lawyers protested and said it is important we have the media.

On their insistence, the panel accepted that journalists would be allowed in provided there is no camera.”

During yesterday’s sitting the state Commissioner for Lands Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam, the Clerk of the Assembly, Christopher Chukwurah, and the Enugu Government House physician, Dr. Anthony Ogbonna, testified on the side of the House of Assembly and were cross-examined except for the physician whose cross-examination will come up when the panel reconvenes today.