Breaking: Finally, Edo Assembly impeaches Deputy Gov Shaibu

Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The lawmakers on Monday morning finally succeeded in sacking Shaibu, who has been having a running battle with Governor Godwin Obaseki.

He had refused to honour invitations extended to him by the seven-man panel which investigated allegations against him.

After Shaibu’s refusal, the panel led by Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd) wrote its report and recommended his removal, saying he had declined the opportunity for defence.

Justice Omonua, during the panel’s sitting on Friday had lamented the deputy governor’s absence.

“This is the position of the panel. The panel adjourned sitting to today (Friday) for the last time for the respondent to present its defence, and the respondent is still not before the panel,” he had said.

Lawyer to the impeached deputy governor, Prof Oladoyin Awoyale, SAN, had withdrawn from participating in the proceedings after the panel ruled against his motion.

Awoyale had urged the panel to comply with a Federal High Court, Abuja, that ordered the panel to show cause why an interlocutory injunction to maintain status quo on the proceeding of the petition pending the determination of the case should not be granted to the plaintiff.

Shaibu’s counsel, however, urged the panel to wait for the decision of the Federal High Court on the matter slated for April 8, 2024.