A High Court in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, has stopped the swearing-in of Mr Calistus Ekenze as the new Deputy Governor of the state.
The court ruling came in on Tuesday morning just as Mr Ekenze was about to be sworn in.
The Attorney-General of the state, Miletus Nlemadim, informed those gathered for the ceremony about the ruling which halted the process.
Top government officials had started gathering at Exco Chambers of the Government House in Owerri where the swearing-in was supposed to take place as early as 10 am.
But just after 12 pm, news of the court order meant the inauguration could not continue.
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorcha had nominated Mr Ekenze as deputy governor after the impeachment of Mr Eze Madumere.
The Imo State House of Assembly impeached Mr Madumere on Monday when 19 out of 27 members backed his removal.
According to the Speaker, Mr Madumere’s impeachment followed a report of a 7-man panel, constituted by the Chief Judge of the state to investigate allegations of gross misconduct.
Immediately after, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Acho Ihim, read a letter from Governor Okorocha nominating Ekenze, the Head of Service in the state, as the new deputy governor.
