The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday directed the State Chief Judge to constitute a 7-man panel that would investigate the petition against the State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
The directive was sequel to the expiration of the 7-day notice issued to the Deputy Governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him by the House on March 6th, 2024 .
The Speaker, Rt.Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, during plenary said that the 7-day notice for the Deputy Governor to respond to the notice of impeachment served by the House on him expired Tuesday, adding that the Deputy Governor refused to respond to the allegation of gross misconduct and other related matters contained in the petition.
Moving a motion for the constitution of the 7-man panel by the Chef Judge, the Majority Leader, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, said that section 188 (3 and 4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers the House to go ahead with the constitution of the 7-man panel whether or not the Deputy Governor responds to the impeachment notice.
He added that the House must perform its statutory duty and that the Deputy Governor must present himself for investigation.
The Majority Leader said, “I therefore state that a motion according to section 188, sub-section 3&4, and that the notice of alleged gross misconduct sent to the Deputy Governor is worthy of investigation.
“The Chief Judge of Edo State is by this motion mandated to set up a constitutional seven-man panel to look at these allegations and report back to the House as early as possible.”
The motion by the House to constitute the 7-man panel received overwhelming support as 19 members voted in favour of the motion by raising up their hands.
