In what seems a climax of the political feud playing out in Edo State, the state House of Assembly on Monday impeached the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.
The latest move came after the House adopted the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
The panel was tasked with examining allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
The specific nature of these accusations remains unclear, but the impeachment vote marks a significant escalation in a suspected political rift between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Justice I. E. Ekwo had on March 28 adjourned till April 8 (today) for the defendants in the suit to appear before him to show cause why Shaibu’s prayer to halt the impeachment proceedings should not be granted.
However, the seven-man impeachment panel headed Justice Omonuwa (retd.) ended its sitting on Friday after Shaibu failed to appear before the panel that probed allegations of perjury and leaking of the government’s secrets against him.
The panel, which had its inaugural sitting last Wednesday in Benin, ended its sitting on Friday with Shaibu or his counsel failing to show up.
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The panel had adjourned till Thursday for Shaibu to open his defence and when he didn’t show up, he was given Friday as the final day to come and defend the allegation against him, which he failed to do.
The Edo State House of Assembly, which is the petitioner in the case, had on Wednesday opened and closed its case, paving the way for Shaibu to defend the allegations levelled against him.
The Assembly explained how Shaibu allegedly leaked the government’s secrets and committed perjury, which, it said, were impeachable offences.
The Assembly, represented by its Deputy Clerk, Joe Ohaifa, stated its case at the inaugural sitting of the seven-man panel probing Shaibu.
The panel was raised by the Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, at the instance of the state Assembly, which on March 5 commenced impeachment proceedings against the deputy government.
The Assembly said the impeachment proceedings were based on a petition accusing Shaibu of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.
Stating the Assembly case, the Deputy Clerk said Shaibu leaked the state’s secrets in the affidavit he filed in support of an Abuja lawsuit.
He said Shaibu rendered documents relating to the State Executive Council’s meeting.
According to Ohaifa, Shaibu violated the Oath of Secrecy he took and acted contrary to the provisions of Schedule 7 of the 1999 Constitution.
With this impeachment, it is not clear what’s next for the now former Deputy Governor, whose only sin was aspiring to contest for the position of Governor against the wish of his boss, Godwin Obaseki.