Impeachment saga: Edo Assembly orders CJ to set up seven-man panel, investigate petition against Deputy Gov.

By Elvis Omoregie, Benin

The Edo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution ordering 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 of the state, Philip Shaibu.

The resolution was reached at the plenary on Tuesday 19 2024. 19 members out of the 24 members voted in favour of the resolution.

Earlier, Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku had notified the house that the seven-day ultimatum granted the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him  has 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, however, ordered for substituted service.

He said the substituted services were published in the State Owned newspaper, the Observer Newspaper and the Vanguard newspaper respectively.

He said the notice was published in the Vanguard newspaper on March 12, 2024, noting that by the counting March 19, 2024 (yesterday) 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 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 responded or not the house has a duty to perform.”

“That duty has been 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 these allegations are not denied it is worthy of investigation.

“I am, therefore, moving a motion 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 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.