The impeachment investigation panel probing alleged gross misconduct against the Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, has fixed today for its final adjournment for Shaibu to defend himself.
The head of a seven-man panel set up to investigate the allegations, Justice Stephen A Omonuwa (retd.), took the decision when it resumed its sitting yesterday, and the deputy governor and his counsel were absent.
Omonuwa said the panel would wait to see if the defendant would open his defence and thereafter called for the defendant, but Shaibu was absent and was not represented.
Justice Omonuwa, therefore, called for appearance for the plaintiff, the Edo State House of Assembly, which initiated the impeachment process.
The Legal Officer of the Edo State House of Assembly, N. U. Ibrahim, announced his appearance for the Assembly, with two others.
The chairman then ruled that the panel would still adjourn to give the defendant an ample opportunity to appear before it to present his defence.
“The panel is adjourned for the last time to April 5, 2024 at 12 noon, to allow the defendant to present his defence”, Justice Omonuwa ruled.
It would be recalled that at the inaugural sitting of the panel on Wednesday, Shaibu’s counsel, Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), told the panel that he was excusing himself and the defendant from continuing with the panel’s proceedings for allegedly disobeying an Abuja High Court injunction stopping the proceeding.
He said that all parties in the matter ought to obey the order which asked the parties to appear before it to show cause why it should or should not grant the enforcement of fundamental human rights prayer Shaibu tabled before the court.
Meanwhile, the Edo State House of Assembly has accused the state’s deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, of leaking government secrets and committing perjury.
The Assembly noted that the allegations against Shaibu were impeachable offences.
The lawmakers, represented by the deputy clerk, Joe Ohaifa, made the claim at the inaugural sitting of the seven-man panel probing Shaibu.
The panel, headed by Justice S.A. Omonuwa (retd.), was raised by the Edo State Chief Judge, Daniel Okungbowa, at the instance of the state Assembly, which yesterday commenced impeachment proceedings against the deputy government.
The Assembly said the impeachment proceedings were based on a petition accusing Shaibu of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.
The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Stating the Assembly case, the deputy clerk said Shaibu leaked the state’s secrets in his affidavit supporting an Abuja lawsuit.
He said Shaibu rendered documents relating to the State Executive Council (SEC)’s meeting.
According to Ohaifa, Shaibu violated the Oath of Secrecy, which he took and acted contrary to the provisions of Schedule 7 of the 1999 Constitution.
After hearing the Assembly’s case, the panel adjourned until today (Thursday) for Shaibu to enter his defence.
Earlier at the proceedings, Shaibu’s lawyer, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), had excused himself from the hearing after the panel declined his application to suspend the proceedings.
