Edo Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, has assembled a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations against Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu. These accusations were outlined in the March 6, 2024 impeachment notice by the 24-member House of Assembly. The Chief Registrar of Edo High Court, Mr. B. O. Osawaru, announced in a statement that the panel would be chaired by Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd.).
Osawaru stated that the formation of the panel aligns with Section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The other members of the panel include Profs. Violet Aigbokhaebo, Boniface Onomion Edegbai, and Theresa Akpoghome, as well as Dr. Andrew Oliha, and Messrs. Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu and Idris Abdulkareen.
On March 19, Edo lawmakers passed a resolution, with 19 of the 24 members, directing the CJ to form the seven-member panel. Meanwhile, Shaibu, at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, filed an ex-parte motion seeking to restrain the Assembly, Chief Judge, and Governor Godwin Obaseki from further action on the impeachment process pending the determination of the substantive matter.
The motion, filed on March 18 by Shaibu's lead counsel, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale, also included Edo Government, the Speaker, Clerk of the Assembly, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). FHC, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotoso, directed that all parties be notified and granted the requested substituted service. The matter is adjourned till April 15, 2024, for further hearing.
