By Ken Afor and Abiola Olawale
The Edo State House of Assembly has impeached the Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.
Shaibu was impeached on Monday following the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against him.
The seven-man panel was headed by retired Justice Stephen Omonua.
The impeachment process, which began last week, was concluded with a decisive vote resulting in Shaibu’s removal from office.
It would be recalled that in 2023, Shaibu was allegedly accused of disclosing government secrets and perjury. This, however, caused a rift between him and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
It would be recalled that the road to Shaibu’s impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
The New Diplomat reports that Shaibu failed to appear before the seven-man panel that probed allegations of perjury and leaking of the government’s secrets against him.
The retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa-led panel, which had its inaugural sitting on Wednesday in Benin, the state capital, ended its sitting on Friday with Shaibu or his counsel failing to show up.
During one of the sittings of the panel, the Deputy Clerk told the panel that Shaibu allegedly leaked the state government’s secrets in the affidavit he filed in support of his suit in Abuja.
According to Ohiafi, Shaibu violated the Oath of Secrecy he took and acted contrary to the provisions of Schedule 7 of the 1999 Constitution.
