Edo State Assembly Impeaches Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu
The Edo State House of Assembly has impeached the embattled deputy governor of the state Mr Philip Shaibu.
He was impeached during the House’s plenary session in Benin City, the Edo State capital in a move that began months ago following the soured relationship between him and the governor Obaseki.
The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
The impeachment proceedings culminated in a dramatic vote that saw Shaibu ousted from his position.
The seven-man investigative panel had earlier last week on Friday concluded its sitting without Shaibu or his counsel appearing.
The panel forwarded its report to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.
During plenary at the assembly complex in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Monday, the Majority Leader of the House Charity Aiguobarueghian said the report of the seven-man judicial panel of inquiry presented to the House had two findings and one recommendation.
Aiguobarueghian said that while the report of the panel was unable to establish the case of perjury levelled against the deputy governor, the panel found him guilty of disclosure of government secrets.
According to the report, the seven-man judicial panel of inquiry recommended that the deputy governor be impeached on grounds of disclosure of government secrets.
The Clerk of the House Yahaya Omogbai conducted a head count of the lawmakers who voted for and against the impeachment of Shaibu.
Eighteen out of 19 members present at plenary voted for the impeachment of the deputy governor while one abstained from the head count and voting process.
The clerk of the House stated that 2/3 (16 members of the House) was needed to carry out the impeachment.
The assembly then upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-man panel and subsequently impeached the deputy governor.
The speaker Blessing Agbebaku has since directed Omogbai to forward copies of the impeachment to Governor Godwin Obaseki for his assent.
Monday’s impeachment comes as a Federal High Court in Abuja was to resume sitting in the lawsuit filed by Shaibu to challenge the Edo State House of Assembly’s plan to impeach him.
But in a swift reaction to his impeachment, Shaibu faulted the move which he said is a threat to the country’s democracy.
In a video post, the impeached Shaibu accused the lawmakers of failing the state and those who elected them.
Shaibu’s impeachment is a culmination of the political impasse between the deputy governor and his principal Godwin Obaseki.
NP/Emmanuel Ukoh
