The 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, Hon. 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.
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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 newspapers, the Observer Newspaper and the Vanguard Newspaper, on March 12, 2024, noting that by counting, March 19, 2024, 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 as amended.
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.”.
“That duty, as bestowed by section 188 subsection 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that a motion be moved when it will be resolved that if these allegations are not denied, is worthy of investigation.
“I am, therefore, moving a motion in pursuant to section 188 subsections 3 and 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is designed not to be argued.
“That the notice served on the deputy governor alleging gross misconduct to be sent for investigations and that the speaker caused the chief judge of the state to set up a seven-man committee to look at the allegations and report its findings to this house as soon as possible,” he said.
In a voice vote, 19 members voted in support of the motion, which was more than two-thirds of the members of the House.
In his remarks, the speaker directed the chief judge to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.