The Edo State House of Assembly has formally impeached Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of the state.
The lawmakers removed Shaibu, who hasn’t been on the same page with Governor Godwin Obaseki, on Monday morning.
Shaibu had declined to honour invitations extended to him by the seven-man panel which investigated allegations against him.
His refusal convinced the panel led by Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd) to recommend his removal, saying Shaibu wasted the opportunity for defence.
At its sitting on Friday, Justice Omonua bemoaned the deputy governor’s absence.
“This is the position of the panel. The panel adjourned sitting to today (Friday) for the last time for the respondent to present its defence, and the respondent is still not before the panel,” he said.
Counsel to the former deputy governor, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale, SAN, had withdrawn from participating in the proceedings after the panel ruled against his motion.
Awoyale had called on the panel to comply with a Federal High Court, Abuja, that ordered the panel to show cause on why an interlocutory injunction to maintain status quo on the proceeding of the petition pending the determination of the case should not be granted to the plaintiff.
He, however, urged the panel to wait for the decision of the Federal High Court on the matter slated for April 8, 2024.
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