Edo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution directing the state’s chief judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.
The House passed the resolution at its plenary yesterday. At the plenary, 19 of the 24 lawmakers voted in favour of the resolution.
Earlier, the speaker, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, had notified the lawmakers that the seven-day ultimatum granted the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him had expired.
Agbebaku said the impeachment notice was earlier served on the deputy governor on March 6, 2024 but due to the alleged evasion of service, the Assembly ordered a substituted service.
He said the substituted service was published in the state-owned newspaper, the Observer Newspaper and the Vanguard Newspaper on March 12, 2024, noting that March 19, 2024 (yesterday) made it seven days.
In his motion, the majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghan and seconded by Nicholas Asonsere, representing Ikpoba Okha constituency, moved that the chief judge be directed to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.
Aiguobarueghan averred that the motion was in line with section 188 subsection 3 and 4 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the failure of the deputy governor to respond to the petition at the stipulated time was also in conformity with the provision of section 188 subsection 3, where it was clearly stated that “whether he responds or not the House has a duty to perform”.
In a voice vote, 19 members voted in support of the motion which was more than two-thirds of members of the House.
The speaker directed the chief judge to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.
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