…walks out of panel sitting
The seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate the allegations of misconduct levelled against the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, began sitting on Wednesday.
The panel, headed by Justice S. A. Omonuwa (Rtd), was set up by Okungbowa following the resolution by the state House of Assembly, which initiated the impeachment process against Shaibu.
At Wednesday’s sitting, the House of Assembly was represented by its counsel and Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, Joe Ohiafi, while Shaibu was represented by Prof Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN).
Meanwhile, the embattled Deputy Governor walked out of the panel after asking the panel to obey an interlocutory injunction by the Federal High Court, Abuja, billed for hearing April 8, 2024.
Shaibu, through his representative, Professor Awoyale (SAN), said participating in the proceedings of the seven-man panel would amount to fait accompli.
However, Ohiafi argued that the panel’s sitting was supported by Section 188 (10) of the constitution which forecloses any court from preventing the House of Assembly and the panel from discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
In its ruling, the panel, headed by retired Justice Omonuwa said the respondent suit at the Federal High Court was neither here nor there as regards the panel sitting, citing Section 188(10) of the Constitution.
He said the section empowers and protects the panel from any external interference, hence declared continuation of the panel’s sitting.
Shaibu’s lead counsel, thereafter, walked out of the panel, saying staying on would amount to contempt of the court.
