The Edo State House of Assembly has disclosed why it initiated impeachment proceedings against the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.
NewsClick Nigeria reports that the state lawmakers had on Wednesday served Shaibu an impeachment notice during a plenary session.
The lawmakers stated that their move to impeach the deputy governor was in line with section 188, subsection (2a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghian, who read the petition, stated that it was duly signed by 21 out of the 24 Honourable Members of the House.
Aiguobarueghian noted that the signatories were more than the two-thirds requirement stipulated by the constitution, adding that it was based on two grounds which were, however, not disclosed to the public.
The Speaker of the house, Blessing Agbebaku, who acknowledged the receipt of the impeachment notice, however, gave the deputy governor seven days to respond to the petition.
However, the impeachment notice, seen by Within Nigeria on several social media platforms, showed that the notice was based on the suit instituted against the Inspector-General and three arms of the state on July 26, 2023, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja division.
The second ground was that the deputy governor, on July 26, 2023, swore an affidavit alleging that he was prevented from attending the State Executive meetings of May 3 and July 19, 2023, which he knew was false.
The notice added that the affidavit was made with the intent to bring the Edo State Government to public odium and opprobrium, an act bordering on perjury, and is thereby guilty of gross misconduct.
“That Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu being the Deputy Governor of Edo State on the 26th of July 2023 filed a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja Division in Suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/1027/ 2023 between Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu v. The Inspector General of Police & 4 Ors; against the three (3) arms of government in Edo State vis Executive as 3rd Defendant, Legislature as 4th” Defendant and Judiciary as 5th Defendant.
“In the said suit, the Plaintiff being the Deputy Governor of Edo State contrary to his oath of office to keep official secret in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Official Secret Law, 2013 did attach to the said suit Exhibits CPS A1, A2 and A3 documents including extracts of top government secrets garnered in the performance of the functions of his office knowing same to be unlawful and is thereby guilty of gross misconduct.
“That you Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu being the Deputy
Governor of Edo State swore to an affidavit on the 26th day of July 2023, alleging that you were prevented from attending the State Executive meeting of 3rd of May and 19th of July 2023 respectively, knowing same to be false but with intent to bring the Edo State Government to public odium and opprobrium; an act bordering on perjury and is thereby guilty of gross misconduct.”
The 21 lawmakers that endorsed the impeachment notice are:
Charity Aiguobrueghian, the majority leader, representing Ovia North-East II constituency, Addeh Emankhu Isibor, representing Esan North-East constituency I, Akokhia Abdulganiyu, APC member representing Etsako West II which is the constituency of the deputy governor, Asonsere Nicholas Friday, Ikpoba Okha, Atu Osamwonyi Evbaguehita, Orhionmwon I, APC.
Also in the list are, Edeko Maria Omozele, deputy speaker, Esan North-East II, Edosa Richard Osaro, LP, Oredo I, Eigbiremonlen Fada Sunday, Esan Central, Sunday Aghedo, APC, Ovia South-West, Idiaye Yekini Oisayemoje, Akoko-Edo I, Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene, Igueben, Lecky Hussein Mustapha, Etsako West I, Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, Esan South- East, Okaka Eric Allison, APC, minority leader, Owan East and Omosigho Uyi Frank, Oredo East.
Others are Oshiomah Ahmed Waziri, APC, Etsako Central, Ugabi Kingsley Oghenakhogie,APC, Etsako East, Uzamere Osadolor Andrew, Ovia North- East II, Iyamu Aitenguoba Bright, Orhionmon II, Osamuyi Kaycee, Uhunmwode.
