The Conference of Registered Political Party, Edo State chapter, has requested the impeachment panel set up by the Chief Judge, Daniel Okungbowa, to not look into the accusation against state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
The party's chairman, Samson Isibor, and secretary, John Isidhaome, stated in a press release on Saturday that it was clear that the CJ was being influenced to establish the panel.
The statement further mentioned, “The announcement by the Chief Judge of Edo State setting up the so-called impeachment panel to probe Phillip Shuaibu, did not come to us as a surprise based on the fact that he who pays or appoint the piper calls the tune. It is clear the CJ is being engineered.
“But our arguments are very fundamental to the nascent democracy we are operating with the three arms of government. Each arm is independent of the other. The Edo State House of Assembly led by Blessing Agbebaku rebuffed the judiciary by turning down a court summon sent by a Federal High Court delivered by a High Court bailiff.
“The court bailiff was harassed and chased away by the House of Assembly security men on the order of the House of Assembly leadership. These actions of the Assembly lawmakers, now law breakers supposed to be viewed seriously as a slight on the judiciary. It took the intervention of the judiciary for the court bailiff to paste the summons at the entrance of the Assembly.
However, the same judiciary quickly assented to the request of the state Assembly that the Chief Judge should constitute a panel to probe Phillip Shaibu. The Chief Judge's action leaves much to be desired as he has been silent about the misconduct of the Assembly leadership.
We are, therefore, appealing to the moral instinct of the panel members to reject their appointments individually or collectively on ethical grounds, justice and fair play; more so, the deputy governor have served Governor Godwin Obaseki, the House of Assembly originating summons by a court of competent jurisdiction, which we believe should not be flouted.
Earlier, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Okungbowa, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate the accusations made against Shaibu by the state House of Assembly as part of the processes initiated by the Assembly to impeach the deputy governor.
The panel was formed on Friday, March 22, 2024, via a statement, with reference number: CR/4837 /Vol. I/131, endorsed by the Chief Registrar of the Edo State High Court, B. O. Osawaru, and is headed by a retired justice, Justice S.A. Omonua.
In the statement, the Chief Registrar stated that the CJ was acting in accordance with the powers vested on him by “Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
