By Abiola Olawale
The impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon Philip Shaibu’s has officially written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to obtain a complaint form to file a formal petition against the Chief Judge of Edo, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.
The New Diplomat reports that Shaibu was impeached on Monday by the state House of Assembly, following the adoption of the report of a seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge to probe him for alleged perjury and leaking the government’s official secrets.
However, In a follow-up, Shaibu in a letter dated April 8 written on his behalf by a law firm, Chambers of B.I. Dakum and Co, and addressed to the CJN, the former Deputy Governor requested to file a formal complaint against the Edo Chief Judge.
The law firm asked the CJN, who doubles as Chairman of the National Judicial Council, for leave to obtain a complaint form to file a formal petition against the Chief Judge of Edo State, for alleged abuse of office, official misconduct, and desecrating oath of office.
The letter reads: “We write as solicitors to Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, who until this morning was Deputy Governor of Edo state.
“Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu has instructed us to file a formal complaint to your council against Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State for abuse of office, official misconduct, and desecration of his oath of office.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to formally request a complaint form prescribed under the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, to enable our client to file his complaint against the subject judge.”