Almost one year after allegation of plot to impeach Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu first surfaced when he went to court asking that it stop the plot, Edo State House of Assembly on Monday finally impeached Shaibu as deputy governor, a position he has held for more than seven years.
At plenary on Monday eighteen members of the Edo State House of Assembly, voted to impeach Shaibu, 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 Clerk of the House read out Order 10 in the day’s order paper which was the presentation and consideration of the seven-man panel report of allegation of gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu.
Shortly after that the Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghan, representing Ovia North East I, moved that the report be considered. His motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Eric Okaka, Owan East.
Thereafter, 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.
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.
