Edo Assembly Removes Deputy Governor Shaibu from Office

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City 

The Edo State House of Assembly, Monday, impeached the state deputy governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu.

The vote to impeach Shaibu was okayed by 18 members out of 24-member state Assembly following the consideration of the report of the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa. 

The impeachment is the first in the state.

In attendance at the House sitting were 20 members, including the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, but 18 members voted for the impeachment while one member abstained. 

The deputy governor’s impeachment commenced with the Clerk of the House reading out Order 10-presentation and consideration of  the seven-man panel report of allegation of gross misconducts against the deputy governor listed in the Assembly’s items for consideration.

Shortly after, the Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghan, representing Ovia North East 1, moved that the report be considered. His motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Eric Okaka, Owan East. 

Consequently, the Speaker assumed chairman of the committee of the whole House to consider the report, after the Majority and Minority Leaders moved and seconded a motion to that effect, respectively.

During the presentation of the report, Donald Okogbe, Akoko-Edo II, rose to object to part C of the report but his objection was overruled by the Speaker. 

The House thereafter resolved that the allegation of perjury against the deputy governor was not proved but held that the second allegation of disclosure of official secrets was proved against the deputy governor. 

At this stage, the Majority and Minority  Leaders of the Assembly moved and seconded a motion, respectively, that the Speaker revert to his position as Speaker of the House. 

The Majority Leader further moved that with regard to section 188 subsection 9 of the Constitution, the report be put to vote. At the end of the voting exercise, 18 members voted in support of the impeachment while one member abstained. 

In his comment, the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, said more than two-third majority of the House voted and endorsed the impeachment. 

“I hereby from my seat announce that the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, stands impeached”, he stressed.