By Abiola Olawale
The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa has a seven-man panel to probe the allegations levelled against the Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, following an impeachment notice brought up by the State House of Assembly.
Indeed, the constitution of the seven-man panel is said to be in line with last Tuesday’s resolution of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Recall that the Edo State House of Assembly had on March 6, 2024, served a notice of impeachment on Shaibu over alleged misconduct and perjury, and he was given seven days ultimatum to respond to the petition.
The House in its plenary last Tuesday, March 19, 2024, had also passed a resolution directing the Chief Judge to set up a panel to probe the various allegations levelled against the deputy governor.
While complying with the directive of the state House of Assembly, Justice Okungbowa in a statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, B.O. Osawaru, disclosed that retired Justice S.A. Omonua (Rtd), has been named as the chairman of the panel.
Three Professors from the University of Benin, UNIBEN, and Benson Idahosa University, BIU, are also panel members.
The professors are Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Faculty of Law, UNIBEN, Boniface Onomion Edegbai, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, UNIBEN and Theresa Akpoghome, former Dean, Faculty of Law, BIU.
Other members are Surveyor Andrew Oliha, Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu and Idris Abdulkareen.
The letter reads: “This is to bring to the notice of the general public that in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Honourable Chief Judge of Edo State, Honourable Justice D.I. Okungbowa has constituted the PANEL OF SEVEN PERSONS to investigate the allegations contained in the impeachment notice against the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu.
“The said Panel of Seven Persons comprises the following
persons:
1. Hon. Justice S.A. Omonua (Rtd.) – chairman
2. Professor Violet Aigbokhaevbo
3. Professor Boniface Onomion Edegbai
4. Professor Theresa Akpoghome
5. Mr. Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu
6. Surv. Dr. Andrew Oliha
7. Mr. Idris Abdulkareen.”
The New Diplomat reports that the storm against Shiabu and his many sins including alleged gross misconduct, breach of procedural rules, inappropriate behavior unbecoming of a deputy governor, perjury, among others are coming on the heels of his perceived disloyalty to his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State.
Recall that Shaibu first raised the alarm of a move to impeach him and institute a case against the planned move.
The deputy governor relocated his office from the government house and since then has allegedly been attending exco meetings through Zoom.
His many sins are believed to include disloyalty, perjury, total breach of trust and good behavior, among others. Only recently Shaibu surfaced in Port Harcourt with so much noise at a public function when his boss and all other participating governors had already taken their seats!
Said a senior diplomat from Esan in Edo state: “ That behavior which I watched on TV is enough to sack a deputy governor….You can’t breach protocol so blatantly and continue to subject Edo state to disrepute…”
