On Friday, the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, failed to appear before the seven-man panel probing the allegations levied against him by the State House of Assembly.
Following his failure to show up, the panel led by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa ended its sitting today.
The panel, which was inaugurated on Wednesday in Benin, the Edo state capital, was given the responsibility of investigating the allegations of perjury and leakage of the government’s secrets levelled against the deputy governor.
At today’s sitting, which had both Shuaibu and his counsel absent, the state assembly was represented by its Legal Officer, N.U. Ibrahim, who appeared with two others.
Giving his decision on the development, the chairman of the panel noted that since the deputy governor didn’t show up to defend himself, the panel will end to enable them to write their report as required by the law.
Justice Omonuwa said, “The panel adjourned sitting for the last time till today (Friday) to allow the respondent to defend himself. The panel shall retire to go and write its report as required by the constitution.”
News About Nigeria reported that the Justice Omonuwa-led panel, on Thursday, adjourned sitting to Friday noon to allow Shaibu to defend the allegation against him, which he failed to do.
The Edo State House of Assembly, the petitioner in the case, opened and closed its case on Wednesday, paving the way for Shaibu to defend the allegations levelled against him.
However, Shaibu and his counsel, Oladoyin Awoyale, showed up before the panel on Wednesday and prayed for the panel to stop sitting on the matter because the case is still in court.
In response, the panel declined because being in court does not stop the panel from investigating the allegations levied against the deputy governor.
