The House of Assembly has removed Philip Shaibu from his position as deputy governor of Edo State.
On Monday morning, the lawmakers dismissed Shaibu, who has been engaged in a protracted conflict with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu had turned down invitations from the seven-member commission that looked into his alleged wrongdoings.
Following Shaibu’s denial, the panel headed by Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd) issued its report, which suggested his dismissal on the grounds that Shaibu had turned down the chance to defend himself.
Justice Omonua bemoaned the deputy governor’s absence during the meeting on Friday.
This is where the panel is located. “The respondent is still not before the panel, and the panel adjourned sitting until today (Friday) for the final opportunity for the respondent to present its defense,” he stated.
Professor Oladoyin Awoyale, SAN, the former deputy governor’s counsel, withdrew from the proceedings when the panel denied his request.
Awoyale had pushed the panel to follow the directive of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which required the panel to provide justification for why the plaintiff should not be granted an interlocutory injunction to maintain the status quo throughout the petition’s proceeding while the matter is being decided.
But he pleaded with the panel to hold off until the Federal High Court’s April 8, 2024, ruling on the case.