Abia Crisis: Chief Judge Disappears As Ogah Arrives Umuahia For Swearing-in.

The absence of the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Theresa Uzoukwu, has stalled the expected inauguration of Dr. Samson Ogah as the new governor of the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Thursday issued Ogah a Certificate of Return, thus withdrawing the one that was earlier issued to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and paved the way for the swearing-in of Ogah.

The action, INEC said, was in obedience to an Abuja Federal High Court judgment ordering Ikpeazu to immediately vacate office.

In his ruling, Justice Okon Abang had on Monday made a consequential order that Ikpeazu vacates his office‎ as Abia State Governor based on the allegation that he did not pay his tax for 2011, 2012 and 2013 as and when due as a public officer.

However, the inauguration could not take place because it was learnt that the state Chief Judge, who was supposed to have performed the function, was no where to be found.

Meanwhile, Ikpeazu has obtained an ex parte injunction issued by Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu of the state High Court, Osisioma, restraining the chief judge from swearing in Ogah.

Ikpeazu had in a statement he signed insisted that he remains the governor of the state, appealing to the people of the state to remain calm.

Ogah, who arrived Umuahia from Abuja at about 5.45pm, headed straight to the office of the State Director of State Services, Korede Kamoju, in Umuahia, where he held a closed-door meeting with the DSS boss.

The meeting lasted until about 8.10pm.

Ogah left the DSS 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 event in the state.