Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo has sacked the state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice, Cyprian Akaolisa.

This was contained in a statement signed on Monday in Owerri by the state’s commissioner for information, public orientation, and strategy, Declan Emelumba.

The statement, however, did not disclose reasons for the removal of Mr Akaolisa.

The erstwhile commissioner was directed to hand over all government property under his care to the state solicitor general and permanent secretary, Ministry of Justice, immediately.

Mr Emelumba later disclosed that the sack was part of moves to rejig the cabinet.

However, the commissioner denied the speculations that the removal was sequel to the controversies that followed the appointment of a chief judge for the state.

“Honestly, I don’t want to speculate. All I know is that His Excellency (Hope Uzodimma) in his wisdom appoints his commissioners and removes them; when it is auspicious, he will give reasons.

“But this is part of a minor cabinet reshuffling,” he said.

The National Judicial Commission (NJC) in November 2024 directed the sack of Justice Theresa Chikeka over alleged age falsification.

Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu, who was later appointed acting chief judge of the state, was equally removed on grounds that he was not the most senior judicial officer in the state high court. 

(NAN)