The Edo State Home of Meeting on Tuesday handed a decision directing the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to arrange a seven-member committee to research allegations of gross misconduct in opposition to Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.
In the course of the plenary assembly, 19 of the 24 members voted in favor of the decision.
The Home of Representatives initiated impeachment proceedings in opposition to Shaibu on March 5, accusing him of perjury and leaking authorities secrets and techniques.
Nevertheless, all efforts to serve him the impeachment discover proved abortive as he was reportedly out of state.
After it turned clear that the termination couldn’t be served bodily, the Home served him with the termination on March 12 by the use of substitute (by publication of the letter in three nationwide newspapers).
The impeachment proceedings are believed to be the most recent growth within the rift between Shaibu and his director, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
There was an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since final yr when Shaibu expressed his curiosity in becoming a member of this yr's governorship race in Edo.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Blessing Agbebaku, had knowledgeable his colleagues that the seven-day ultimatum given to the Deputy Governor to reply to the impeachment discover served on him has expired.
Agbebaku mentioned the discover of impeachment was beforehand served on the Deputy Governor on March 6, 2024, however because of the alleged evasion of service, the Home ordered various service.
He mentioned the discover was revealed within the Vanguard newspaper on March 12, 2024, noting that it was seven days on March 19, 2024 (Tuesday).
In his movement, the Majority Chief of the Home, Charity Aiguobarueghan, and seconded by Nicholas Asonsere, who represented Ikpoba Okha Constituency, proposed that the Chief Justice be directed to arrange a seven-member committee to research the petition in opposition to the Deputy Governor.
Aiguobarueghan claimed that the movement was in accordance with Article 188, Subsections 3 and 4 of the Structure.
He famous that the Deputy's failure to reply to the petition on the specified instances was additionally in accordance with the availability of Article 188(3), which clearly acknowledged that “whether or not he responds or not, the Home has an obligation has to carry out”.
He added: “That responsibility as conferred by Part 188, Subsection 3 of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, {that a} movement be filed when it is going to be resolved and that if this allegation shouldn’t be denied, it’s worthy of investigation.
“I subsequently file a movement underneath Article 188, Subsection 3 and 4 of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is meant to not be argued.
“That the discover seeks to have the deputy governor, who alleges gross misconduct, despatched for investigation and that the speaker has prompted the chief justice of the state to arrange a seven-member committee to look into the allegations and to report its findings to this Home as quickly as potential. if potential.”
Nineteen members of the Home of Representatives voted in favor of the movement.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Home of Representatives directed the Chief Justice to arrange a seven-member committee to research the petition in opposition to the Deputy Governor.