In a recent development, the Edo State House of Assembly has taken the decision to impeach Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of the state.
The impeachment took place during the plenary session held on Monday in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
Shaibu’s impeachment followed the adoption of the report of a seven-man committee set up by the chief judge of Edo Edo State Justice Daniel Okungbowa to investigate allegations of misconduct against the deputy governor.
Just last week, the Edo House of Assembly initiated the process of impeaching Shaibu. It’s worth noting that a significant majority of the lawmakers, specifically 21 out of 24, signed a petition in support of this action which shows a strong consensus among the legislators regarding the impeachment proceedings.
They accused Shaibu of perjury and disclosure of the state government’s secrets.
At the plenary held last Tuesday, Blessing Agbebaku, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, addressed the lawmakers.
During this session, the Speaker informed them that the seven-day ultimatum given to Shaibu to respond to the impeachment notice had expired.
The speaker reminded the lawmakers that the impeachment notice was served on Shaibu on March 6, 2024. But due to what he described as the deputy governor’s alleged evasion of service, the Edo House of Assembly ordered a substituted service.
Agbebaku said the substituted service was published in the Nigerian Observer and the Vanguard Newspapers on March 12, 2024. He said March 19, 2024, made it seven days.
The Majority Leader of the Edo House of Assembly Charity Aiguobarueghan then moved a motion that Justice Okungbowa be directed to set up a committee to probe the petition against Shaibu.
Shaibu’s impeachment is a culmination of the political impasse between the deputy governor and his principal Godwin Obaseki.
