Deputy governor Shaibu
The 7-man panel set up by Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State to investigate the impeachment allegations against the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu began sitting on Wednesday.
The seven-man panel headed by retired Justice S. A. Omonua was set up by the Chief Judge to investigate the allegations of misconduct levelled against Shaibu by the Edo State House of Assembly.
At the start of proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff and defendant addressed the panel on the proprietary rights of both parties.
Counsel to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, advised the seven-man panel at its inaugural sitting, Wednesday to obey the interlocutory order made by an Abuja Federal High Court to stop the panel Chairman and members from proceeding with their inaugural sitting.
According to the Counsel, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale, SAN, the decision of the panel to continue with its inaugural proceedings amounts to a “deliberate act of disobedience of a court order and an attempt to foist a fait accompli on the court.”
He rested his case on the order of Justice I.E Ekwo of Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which gave an interlocutory order for proceedings of the panel to abate pending the return date when the Chairman and three other members of the panel will show cause.
The court had adjourned the matter to Monday, April 8, 2024 for the respondents to show cause why the relief sought by the applicant should not be granted.
However, counsel to the House of Assembly, who is the Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, Joe Oaifi Esq, argued that the panel’s sitting was supported by Section 188 (10) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, which forecloses any court from preventing the House of Assembly and the panel from discharging its constitutional responsibilities.
After hearing the arguments of both parties, the panel’s Chairman called for a brief adjournment to determine whether or not they will proceed.
In his ruling, after about two hours of adjournment, the Chairman agreed with the submission of the counsel for the House of Assembly and said the panel will proceed with its sitting.
Counsel for Shaibu had to excuse himself from the inaugural proceedings of the panel, in obedience of the order of court. Subsequently, the panel continued with its sitting and adjourned at about 2.30pm to reconvened Thursday, April 4, 2024.
