Members of the Edo State House of Assembly yesterday directed the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to set up a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct and perjury, among others, levelled against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.
Speaker Blessing Agbebaku told the lawmakers that the seven-day ultimatum it gave Shaibu to respond to the impeachment notice served on him on March 6 had expired.
Agbebaku averred that since Shaibu had evaded the service of the impeachment notice, the Assembly had ordered a substituted service in two newspapers.
Majority Leader Charity Aiguobarueghan moved the motion that directed the CJ to raise the seven-member panel, and it was seconded by the lawmaker representing Ikpoba/Okha State Constituency, Nicholas Asonsere.
Aiguobarueghan said the motion was in line with Section 188, sub-sections 3 and 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The majority leader noted that Shaibu’s failure to respond to the petition at the stipulated times was also in conformity with the provision of Section 188, sub-section 3.
He added that whether the public office holder responded or not, the lawmakers had a duty to perform.
In a voice vote, 19 of the 24 lawmakers voted in support of the motion, being more than two-thirds of members of the Assembly.
Source:The nation
