*Edo Govt. Pulls Down Benin Residence Security Post
THE recently impeached deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu is allegedly being persuaded to drop his petition against Justice Okungbowa, according to his lawyer, Andrew Emwanta.
Shaibu, through Emwanta, had last week written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, requesting a complaint form to file a formal petition against Justice Okungbowa.
Emwanta, who disclosed this on Monday, April 15, said in view of the appeals coming from several quarters, Shaibu was weighing his options.
Asked if the former deputy governor was dropping his complaint due to the appeals, Emwanta said: “I didn’t say so. There are appeals for him to do so, I believe this clarification is sufficient.”
This came days after officials of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and members of the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV), on Sunday, April 14, pulled down the security post at his Benin residence, with security cover by armed policemen.
The demolished security post, located at the entrance to the residence in GRA, Benin City, shared a wall with the Benin Golf Course and served as temporary shelter for security operatives that watched over the residence.
Video clips showing the demolition exercise went viral on social media, with a bulldozer seen demolishing the structure, while residents and policemen looked on.
The demolition came days after Shaibu was impeached as the deputy governor by the state House of Assembly on Monday, April 8, following its adoption of the report of a seven-member investigative panel constituted by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, and headed by Justice S. A. Omonuwa (rtd), on the allegations of “misconduct, perjury and disclosure of government secrets.”
Shaibu described his removal as an illegality, vowing to challenge it through the instrumentality of the law.
Governor Godwin Obaseki subsequently nominated Omobayo Godwins as his new Deputy.
Shaibu had attributed his impeachment to his ambition to contest this year’s Edo governorship election.
The relationship between Obaseki and Shaibu has been cold ahead of the election.
