The embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has refused to continue participating in the proceedings of the seven-man panel established to investigate allegations of misconduct leveled against him by the Edo State House of Assembly.
News About Nigeria reports that the panel was instituted by the state’s Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Daniel Okungbowa.
Shaibu, represented by Professor Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), based his decision on an interlocutory injunction from an Abuja Federal High Court, adjourning the matter to April 8, 2024. According to Shaibu’s counsel, adherence to the court’s ruling mandates discontinuing involvement in the panel’s proceedings.
However, the counsel for the House of Assembly and Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, Ossai, argued that the panel’s session is justified by constitutional provisions, which prohibit courts from obstructing the House of Assembly and the panel from fulfilling their constitutional duties.
The seven-man panel, chaired by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa, was convened by Justice Okungbowa in response to the resolution by the Edo State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Shaibu.
Recall that the Assembly passed a resolution in March, urging the chief judge to establish a committee to investigate the allegations against Shaibu.
During a plenary session, the Assembly Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, informed lawmakers that the seven-day ultimatum given to Shaibu to respond to the impeachment notice had expired.
The speaker reminded colleagues that the deputy governor was served with an impeachment notice on March 6 via substituted service, published in the Nigerian Observer and Vanguard newspaper on March 12.
In presenting the deputy governor’s case, counsel to retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa of the seven-man panel, Professor Awoyale (SAN), referenced several cases and explained to the panel that immediate citation supplies weren’t feasible as they were electronic citations from the Law Pavilion Electronic Law Reports.
A panel member, Professor Theresa Akpoghome, questioned the propriety of verbal citations without providing physical copies to the court.
In response, the deputy governor’s counsel said that such practice was acceptable and proceeded to provide the references from his phone.
Following discussion, the panel deliberated on all arguments presented, prompted by Awoyale’s clarification that the Abuja Federal High Court had only instructed the parties to return to demonstrate cause.
