During its plenary session yesterday, the Edo State House of Assembly unanimously passed a resolution tasking the state’s chief judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to establish a seven-man committee to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.
The resolution received overwhelming support from 19 out of 24 lawmakers present at the session.
Prior to this decision, Speaker Hon. Blessing Agbebaku informed the assembly that the seven-day ultimatum given to the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice had lapsed. The notice had been served on March 6, 2024, but due to difficulties in serving Shaibu, the Assembly resorted to a substituted service. This substituted service was published in the state-owned Observer Newspaper and the Vanguard Newspaper on March 12, 2024, effectively making March 19, 2024, the deadline.
The motion to direct the chief judge to initiate the investigation committee was presented by the majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghan, and seconded by Nicholas Asonsere, representing Ikpoba Okha constituency. Aiguobarueghan asserted that the motion aligned with Section 188 subsections 3 and 4 of the Nigerian Constitution. She emphasized that the failure of the deputy governor to respond within the stipulated time was in accordance with the provisions of Section 188 subsection 3, which mandates the House to proceed with its duties regardless of the response.
With a resounding voice vote, 19 members supported the motion, surpassing the required two-thirds majority.
Following the vote, the speaker instructed the chief judge to promptly establish the seven-man committee to investigate the allegations against the deputy governor.
