Impeachment: Edo assembly directs CJ to probe allegations against Shaibu

The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution directing the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.

On Tuesday at the plenary, 19 members out of the 24 members voted in favour of the resolution.

The House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu on March 5, accusing him of perjury and leaking of government’s secrets.

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However, all efforts to get the impeachment notice to him proved abortive as he was said to be out of the state.

After it became clear that the notice could not be served physically, the House served him the notice on March 12 through substitution (by publishing the letter in three national dailies).

The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest to join this year’s Edo governorship race.

Earlier, Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, had notified his colleagues that the seven-day ultimatum granted the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him has expired.

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Agbebaku said the impeachment notice was earlier served on the deputy governor on March 6, 2024, but due to the alleged evasion of service, the House ordered substituted service.

He said the notice was published in the Vanguard newspaper on March 12, 2024, noting that March 19, 2024 (Tuesday) made it seven days.

In his motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Charity  Aiguobarueghan, and seconded by Nicholas Asonsere, representing Ikpoba Okha constituency, moved that the chief judge be directed to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.

Aiguobarueghan averred that the motion was in line with Section 188 Subsections 3 and 4 of the constitution.

He noted that failure of the deputy to respond to the petition at the stipulated times was also in conformity with the provision of Section 188 sub-section 3, where it was clearly stated that “whether he respond or not the House has a duty to perform”.

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He added, “That duty as bestowed by Section 188 Subsection 3 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that a motion be moved when it will be resolved and that if this allegation is not denied, it is worthy of investigation.

“I am, therefore, moving a motion in pursuant to Section 188 Subsection 3 and 4 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is designed not to be argued.

“That the notice serves on the deputy governor alleging gross misconduct to be sent for investigations and that the speaker caused the Chief Judge of the state to set up a seven-man committee to look at the allegations and report its findings to this House as soon as possible.”

Nineteen members of the House voted in support of the motion.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House directed the chief judge to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.