By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
THE Edo State House of Assembly at exactly 1.51 p.m on Wednesday, closed its case of allegation of gross misconduct against the embattled deputy governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, before the Justice S.A. Omonuwa (retd) seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge (CJ), of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate Shaibu.
In closing it’s case, the Assembly, through its counsel, Ohiafi Joe, Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, relied on section 118 (10), Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, submitting that the Assembly determines exclusively what constitutes “gross misconducts”.
Ohiafi argued that by virtue of the case instituted by Shaibu before an Abuja Federal High Court, and his depositions herein, where he rendered documents relating to the State Executive Council’s meeting, the deputy governor had violated the Oath of Secrecy he took by Schedule 7 of the constitution.
The Assembly counsel, therefore, closed his case by asking the panel to uphold the provisions of the constitution that only the House of Assembly could determine “what constitutes gross misconduct.”
There was no objection as the counsel to Comrade Shaibu, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), had earlier exited the panel on the ground that he could not continue if the parties would not obey the court by appearing before the Abuja Federal High Court which asked them to appear before it on Monday, April 8, 2024; an argument the panel ruled against.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Omonuwa (retd), in his ruling, adjourned to Thursday, April 4, on the ground that the panel would give the deputy governor and his counsel to reconsider their stance of not participating in the proceedings of the panel.
