Impeachment: Panel Gives Shaibu Final Opportunity To Defend Himself

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Thursday, failed to show up to open his defence before the seven-man panel probing allegations of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets against him.

The retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa-led panel, which had its inaugural sitting on Wednesday in Benin, had adjourned till Thursday for Shaibu to open his defence.

The Edo State House of Assembly, which is the petitioner in the case, had on Wednesday opened and closed its case, paving the way for Shaibu to defend the allegations levelled against him.

However, at the resumed hearing on Thursday, neither Shaibu nor his lawyer, Prof Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), showed up.

When it became apparent that the defendant, Shaibu, was absent and was not represented, Justice Omonua called for appearance for the plaintiff, the Edo State House of Assembly, which initiated the impeachment process.

N.U. Ibrahim, Legal Officer, Edo State House of Assembly, announced his appearance for the Assembly with two others.

The chairman then ruled that the panel would still adjourn to give the defendant the ample opportunity to appear before it to present his defense.

READ ALSO: Edo Assembly Directs CJ To Constitute Committee For Deputy Governor’s Impeachment

It would be recalled that Shaibu’s counsel, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), withdrew from participating in the panel proceedings during Wednesday’s sitting after the panel dismissed his motion.

Awoyale had objected to the investigation’s continuation, citing a Federal High Court, Abuja, order by Justice J.E. Ekwo, instructing the panel to show cause why an interlocutory injunction to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case should not be granted to the plaintiff (Philip Shaibu).

He highlighted that the order was issued on March 28, with the case adjourned to April 8, and requested that the panel await the Federal High Court’s decision on the matter scheduled for April 8.