Edo impeachment saga: Assembly directs CJ to set up seven-man panel

Edo State House of Assembly in Tuesday moved a step further the ladder of the impeachment process against the deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, as it directed the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconducts levelled against the deputy governor.

The assembly gave the directive vide a resolution passed during plenary session as a furtherance to the impeachment process it initiated against the embattled deputy governor penultimate week.

At the plenary, 19 members out of the 24 members voted in favour of the resolution.

Earlier, the speaker of the House, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, had notified the members that the seven-day ultimatum granted the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him had expired.

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 was forced to order for substituted service.

He said the substituted service were published in the state owned newspaper, the Observer Newspaper, and the Vanguard newspaper.

The speaker added, the notice was published on the Vanguard newspaper on March 12, 2024, noting that by the counting, March 19, 2024 (Tuesday) made it seven days.

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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 seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.

Aiguobarueghan, averred that the motion was in line with section 188 subsection 3 and 4 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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.

“That duty has 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 that if this allegations are not denied 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 serve 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,” he said.

In a voice vote, 19 members of the house voted in support of the motion which was more than two-third of members of the house.

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