Panel begins probe into Edo deputy governor’s misconduct

The seven-man panel set up to investigate allegations of misconduct against Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo state, has commenced sitting in Benin.

The panel was set up by Daniel Okungbowa, chief judge of Edo. It is headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.

The commencement of the panel’s sitting follows the resolution by the state house of assembly on initiating impeachment processes against Shaibu.

Shaibu has since fallen out with Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state.

At the panel’s inaugural sitting on Wednesday, the house of assembly was represented by Joe Ohiafi, deputy clerk, legal.

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Shaibu was represented by Oladoyin Awoyale, a professor and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

In July, Shaibu approached a federal high court in Abuja with a suit to prevent the impeachment plot against him.

He asked the court to restrain Obaseki, the speaker of the state assembly, and the chief judge, from “initiating impeachment proceedings or sanctioning any impeachment” against him.

Thereafter, the court restrained Obaseki, the speaker, and other defendants in the suit from initiating impeachment proceedings against Shaibu.

In September, Shaibu withdrew the suit he filed against Obaseki, paving the way for the current proceedings against him.