The deputy governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi, who is currently facing an impeachment panel recently said Gov. Sullivan Chime, also operated piggery farms at the Government House.

Giving evidence before the panel, Mr. Onyebuchi said the governor’s poultry was hurriedly evacuated shortly after the panel commenced sitting.

Mr. Onyebuchi is accused of operating commercial poultry at his official residence and disobedience to Mr. Chime, in the impeachment notices served him by the Enugu State House of Assembly.

However, the embattled deputy governor suddenly took ill while testifying before the seven-member panel last week.

Membership of the panel are Franklin Oraekeyi (Chairman), Ebele Eze, Anthony Iguh, Fabian Uluakanwa, Okwuchukwu Aroh, Martin Onyemuru and Mercy Anyim.

Mr. Onyebuchi revealed that the state government had budgeted for the maintenance of the poultry since 2011. The deputy governor who tendered the state’s budget between 2011 and 2014, said funds had always been provided for the poultry he operated.

He insisted that he did not commit any offence that could warrant his impeachment and that the poultry farms he and the governor were operating were there before they assumed office in 2007.

The deputy governor described all the allegations the lawmakers brought against him as false and baseless.

Mr. Onuebuchi told journalists after he concluded his evidence that he had been able to tell the panel that the resolution purportedly adopted by the legislature was not a law.

“I have always said that this is a straight forward matter. One is the allegation of operating a poultry farm. We have been able to put the message across that the House of Assembly resolution is not a law and the resolution was not made available to me,” he said.

“We were able to make the point that there is also poultry at Government House and the poultry at the Government House was evacuated with the commencement of the panel proceedings.”

“Today, I was able to present to the panel other evidence to show that there was poultry at the Government House. I got copies of Enugu State government budget for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and in each of these budgets, you have evidence of the allocation for Government House poultry and piggery and amount attached to it and I was also able to prove that the amount was released. If they said there was no poultry, then let’s know why we have all these provisions all these years.”

On the allegation that he refused to represent Mr. Chime at the flag-off of the 2nd Niger Bridge by President Goodluck Jonathan earlier in the year, Mr. Onyebuchi said he played the video of the event by the African Independent Television, AIT, before the panel.

He denied being communicated in person by telephone or by any other means to represent the governor at the meeting of the South East Governors during Mr. Chime’s vacation.

He said, “He did not communicate to me in person, by telephone or whatever means. He never, while going on vacation that he will pass instructions to me through a third party and like I said, this is a straight forward matter and I believe the ball is in the court of the panel.

“It is for them to decide whether to stand on the side of truth, on the side of justice which most citizens of Enugu State are asking for. If they believe like most people say that might is right, whoever has power is right, we will see by the end of the day. I have not committed offence that will justify being removed by impeachment. I started working with the governor in 2007 and if I was not obedient to him, I don’t think he will nominate me again for the second term to run with him for another four years.

“Even when he was away on vacation in 2012 and 2013, I believe I represented him very well such that the letter he wrote to the House of Assembly when he came back, he commended me. I also received commendation from so many people; I also received commendation from the members of the state executive as well as members of the House of Assembly. I am hopeful that truth will triumph.”