*Embattled Dep Gov Serves Obaseki, Assembly Originating Summons
THE Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, has constituted a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
Recall that the state House of Assembly commenced the processes of impeaching Shaibu last week by passing a resolution mandating the CJ to set up a penal to probe the allegation against him.
Okungbowa set up the panel on Friday, March 22, in a statement, with reference number, CR/4837 /Vol. I/131, endorsed by the Chief Registrar of the Edo State High Court, B. O. Osawaru, with Justice S.A. Omonua, a retired Justice, as head, in accordance with the powers vested on him by Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the statement, other members of the panel are Prof. Violet Aigbokhaebo; Prof. Boniface Onomion Edegbai; Prof. Theresa Akpoghome; Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu; Andrew Oliha and Idris Abdulkareen.
The Assembly had on Tuesday, March 19, in a resolution passed by 19 out of the 24 members, directed the CJ to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate Shaibu.
The same day, Shaibu approached the Abuja Federal High Court, seeking, through an ex-parte motion, to restrain the Assembly, CJ and Governor Godwin Obaseki from taking further action on the impeachment process, pending the determination of the substantive matter before the court.
In the motion dated and filed on March 18, the deputy governor, through his Counsel, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale, also joined the Edo State Government, Speaker of the Assembly, its Clerk, the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and Inspector General of the Police.
The court, presided over by Justice James Omotoso, however, turned down the request, insisting rather than all parties be put on notice, but granted the request that the parties be served by substituted means.
The court thereafter adjourned the matter until April 15, this year.
Meanwhile, Shaibu, on Friday, March 22, served Obaseki and the Assembly originating summons after the Bailiff was earlier sent away by security at the Government House. Shaibu later served Obaseki the summons by courier.
The Bailiff also succeeded in pasting the summons at the entrance of the Assembly.
