The embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Wednesday, declined to further participate in the proceedings of the seven-man panel set up by the state Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate the allegation of misconduct levelled against him by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Shaibu, who was represented by Professor Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), hinged his stance on the order of an Abuja Federal High Court, which gave an interlocutory injunction for further proceedings and adjourned the matter to April 8, 2024.
The deputy governor’s counsel said that with the ruling, all parties must abide by the ruling of the court and continuing with the panel would amount to fait accompli.
The counsel to the House of Assembly and Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, Ossai, said that the panel’s sitting was supported by the provision of the constitution which forecloses any court from preventing the House of Assembly and the panel from discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
The seven-panel panel is headed by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa, and was set up by Justice Okungbowa following the resolution by the Edo State House of Assembly which initiated the impeachment process against Shaibu.
Panel raises poser on mode of citation
Meanwhile, the retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa of the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge (CJ) of Edo State is set to determine a legal issue on citations in the legal profession.
Arguing the case of the deputy governor, his counsel, Professor Awoyale (SAN), cited several cases and informed the panel that he could not supply the references immediately because they were electronic citations, derived from the Law Pavilion Electronic Law Reports
A member of the panel, Professor Theresa Akpoghome, asked the SAN if it was proper to make verbal citations without availing the court of physical copies.
The deputy governor’s counsel fired back that the practice allowed that and he went ahead to provide the references from his phone.
The panel rose to rule on all the arguments canvassed, after Awoyale’s attention was drawn to the fact that the Abuja Federal High Court only asked the parties to come back to show cause.
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