– Philip Shaibu, embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State
By Adeola Idris
The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on Monday, reviewed the panel constituted to probe the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
The CJ raised the probe panel at the instance of the state House of Assembly, which on March 12, commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu.
The Assembly said the impeachment proceedings were based on a petition accusing Shaibu of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.
The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the feud between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The two of them fell apart last year after Shaibu declared his intention to become the next Edo State governor.
The House of Assembly had at a plenary sitting last week written to the Chief Judge, directing him to constitute a panel to probe the allegations against Shaibu.
On Friday, It was reported that the CJ had constituted a seven-man panel for the job.
However, in a new list of the panel members available to The PUNCH, on Monday, two of the panel members had been removed.
In the new list signed by the Chief Registrar of the court, B.O Osawaru, the names of two professors, who were in the initial list, were missing.
The missing names are Prof. Violet Aigbokhaebo and Prof. Boniface Edegbai.
Aigbokhaevbo is a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Benin; while is a lecturer in the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, UNIBEN.
No reason was given for the review of the probe panel membership.
The panel, as presently constituted, has retired Justice S.A. Omonua as chairman. The members are Prof. Theresa Akpoghome, Oghogho Oviasu, Dr. Andrew Oliha, Idris Abdulkareen, President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.
The letter reads, “This is to bring to the notice of the general public that in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Honourable the Chief Judge of Edo State, Honourable Justice D.I. Okungbowa, has constituted the panel of seven persons to investigate the allegations contained in the impeachment notice against the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu.
“This is sequel to the resolution of the Edo State House of Assembly on the 19th March 2024, which was sent to the Honourable the Chief Judge of Edo State.”
Meanwhile, a staff in the CJ’s office told our correspondent on Monday that the panel had yet to fix a date to begin sitting.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak, said, “The first thing to be done is to constitute the panel, which the CJ has done. I am sure the date for the sitting will be announced in the coming days.
“The term of reference will also be spelt out so that the panel will know the scope of the assignment
