By Kamsi Anayo
The Deputy Governor Edo state, Comrade Philip Shaibu has been impeached by the State House of Assembly.
Shaibu’s impeachment came after consideration and adoption of the panel report by the House on Monday.
The Assembly had accused Shaibu of leaking state government’s secrets and committing perjury.
It also described Shaibu’s alleged offences as impeachable.
This comes amid a prolonged rift between Gov. Godwin Obaseki and the deputy governor.
The Assembly made the allegation last Wednesday stating its case at the inaugural sitting of the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to probe the deputy governor.
A Federal High court in Abuja will however on Monday resume sitting in a case filled by Shaibu challenging the move to impeach him.
When the case came up on March 28, Justice I. E. Ekwo ordered the respondents – Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, the Chairman of the impeachment panel, Justice S. A. Omonua (rtd), and three members of the panel of seven appointed the by 4th defendant, Edo State Chief Judge and the House of Assembly, to be at the court on April 8 to show cause why the injunction to maintain status, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice should not be granted.
However, the seven man impeachment panel headed Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd.) ended its sitting on Friday after Deputy Governor failed to appear before the panel that probed allegations of perjury and leaking of the government’s secrets against him.
The Deputy Governor was represented by Professor Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN) at three panel’s inaugural sitting on Wednesday.
The lawyer informed the panel that he would not be continuing with the panel’s proceedings on the ground that an Abuja High Court had asked all parties before it, in a case of enforcement of fundamental human rights instituted by him, to come on Monday, April 8, to show cause on why it should or should not grant the reliefs sought.