A seven-member panel established by Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, scheduled the final adjournment for Friday, April 5, 2024, for Shaibu to present his defense.
During the panel’s session on Thursday, chaired by Justice S.A. Omonuwa (retd.), Shaibu and his counsel were absent. Justice Omonuwa announced that the panel would await Shaibu’s defense and called for his appearance.
Upon Shaibu’s continued absence, Justice Omonuwa called for representation from the plaintiff, the Edo State House of Assembly, initiating the impeachment process.
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The Legal Officer for the Assembly, N.U. Ibrahim, appeared with two others. Justice Omonuwa ruled for another adjournment to grant Shaibu the chance to present his defense.
The panel’s last adjournment was set for April 5, 2024, at 12 noon, to allow Shaibu to defend himself.
During the inaugural panel sitting on Wednesday, Shaibu’s counsel, Prof Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), sought leave to excuse himself and Shaibu from the proceedings based on an order from an Abuja Federal High Court. Awoyale later admitted his error about the injunction but insisted on obeying the court’s summons for April 8, 2024.
Despite Awoyale’s arguments, the panel upheld the House of Assembly counsel’s stance, asserting that no court could prevent the Assembly and the panel from fulfilling their constitutional duties. Awoyale then withdrew from the panel.
Subsequently, the House of Assembly counsel, Joe Ohiafi, presented the case for the plaintiff, emphasizing the Assembly’s sole authority to determine gross misconduct. Ohiafi highlighted that Shaibu’s inclusion of Edo State Executive Council documents in his court case breached his oath of office.
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