THE Edo State House of Assembly impeached the state’s embattled deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, in the early hours of Monday, April 8.
The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge, Daniel Okungbowa, to probe allegations of misconduct against him.
The Assembly commenced its session at 9:41 a.m. and conducted a voting process, with the majority voting for the deputy governor’s impeachment.
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Of the 20 members present, 18 voted in favour of the impeachment, while one opposed it, cementing the resolution to impeach Shaibu.
Based on the investigation conducted by a seven-person panel headed by Stephen Omonua, a retired judge appointed by the state’s Chief Judge, Shaibu was deemed responsible for the offence of revealing official secrets.
Recall that Shaibu filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to stop his impeachment, but the Abuja High Court refused to grant an ex-parte motion.
In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the state government, governor, House of Assembly, House of Assembly Speaker, Clerk, Chief Judge, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State, Services were listed as first to eight defendants.
In the suit, Shaibu sought an order of the court restraining the third to fifth defendants from commencing any process by issuing a notice of allegation, holding proceedings, or setting up any panel of investigation for his removal pending the hearing of a motion on notice.
He also sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants, whether themselves or their agents, from interfering with the res/subject matter of the originating summons filed in the suit by taking any adverse action about any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as the deputy governor pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
However, in the ruling dated March 13, the trial judge, James Omotosho, declined the deputy governor’s prayers.
Meanwhile, during Tuesday’s proceedings, the judge scheduled Wednesday for the hearing of another ex-parte motion brought by the plaintiff, requesting substituted service on the defendants due to difficulties in serving them.
The ICIR reports that Shuaibu has had a prolonged battle with the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki. His (Shuaib) interest in succeeding his principal worsened the feud.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M