By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
COUNSEL to the embattled deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), on Wednesday took his exit from the panel at exactly 12 59 p.m on Wednesday after the panel ruled that it would continue with the investigation despite the objection raised by the SAN.
Stonix News reports that the counsel was appearing before the seven-man panel set up to investigate allegations of gross misconducts levelled against the deputy governor.
Awoyale, who had earlier objected to the continuation of the investigation based on the matter before an Abuja Federal High Court which asked all parties to come before it on Monday, April 8, 2024, to show cause while it would or would not grant the reliefs of enforcement of fundamental human rights filed by Shaibu, said that continuing with the investigation would amount to “fait accompli”.
When the panel sustained the argument of the counsel to the House of Assembly, Ohiafi Joe, Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, that by virtue of section 188 (10), as amended, no court has the right to prevent the House of Assembly, or the panel so set up, from performing its constitutional responsibilities, Awoyale exited the panel.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, however, declined to speak to the press.
Ruling on the exit of the SAN, the Chairman of the panel, Justice S.A. Omonuwa, said that the decision of the counsel to the deputy governor would not vitiate against the panel from discharging its duty.
Justice Omonuwa (retd) thereafter called on the House of Assembly to present its case against the deputy governor.
The sitting is still ongoing….
