Edo state deputy governor faces impeachment

The Edo House of Assembly made a significant decision on Monday as they impeached the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The move followed the adoption of a recommendation from a seven-man judicial panel led by Justice Stephen Omonua (retd.).

During the plenary session in Benin, the Majority Leader of the house, Charity Aiguobarueghian, revealed that the panel’s report found Shaibu guilty of disclosing government secrets.

Although the panel couldn’t establish perjury against the deputy governor, it made two findings and one recommendation, forming the basis for the impeachment decision.

Aiguobarueghian stated, “The seven-man judicial panel of inquiry recommended that the deputy governor be impeached on the ground of disclosure of government secrets.”

In the voting process, 18 out of 19 members present at the plenary voted in favour of impeaching the deputy governor, with one abstaining from the voting process.

The Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, conducted the headcount, confirming that the required 2/3 majority (16 members) was met to carry out the impeachment.

Following the decision, the assembly upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-man panel, resulting in the impeachment of the deputy governor.

Speaker Blessing Agbebaku directed the Clerk to forward copies of the impeachment to Governor Godwin Obaseki for assent.