By Nefishetu Yakubu
The Edo House of Assembly on Monday impeached the Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu.
The impeachment followed the adoption of the recommendation of a seven-man judicial panel led by retired Justice Stephen Omonua.
At plenary in Benin, the Majority leader of the house, Charity Aiguobarueghian said the report of the 7-man panel presented to the house found Shauibu culpable of disclosure of government secrets.
Aiguobarueghian further disclosed that though the panel was unable to establish the case of perjury against the deputy governor, it made two findings and one recommendation upon which the decision to impeach the deputy governor was anchored.
According to him, “the seven-man judicial panel of inquiry recommended that the deputy governor be impeached on ground of disclosure of government secrets.’’
During voting on the motion, 18 out of 19 members present at plenary voted for the impeachment of the deputy governor while one abstained from the head count and voting process.
The Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai conducted a head count of the lawmakers who voted for and against the impeachment of Shaibu.
The clerk said with the figure, the house stated that it met 2/3 (16 members of the House was needed to carry out the impeachment).
The assembly thereafter upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-man panel and thereafter impeached the deputy governor.
The speaker, Blessing Agbebaku directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai to forward copies of the impeachment to Gov. Godwin Obaseki for assent.
(NAN)
