From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The panel investigating the allegation of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has fixed Friday, April 5, as the final adjournment for him to defend himself.
The panel had on Wednesday adjourned sitting to Thursday to allow the deputy governor to defend himself even though his Counsel, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), had announced his client’s withdrawal from the panel’s proceedings.
Professor Awoyale who sought the leave of the panel to excuse himself and his client from the proceedings, based his stance on his submission that all parties in the matter ought to obey the order of an Abuja Federal High Court which asked the parties to appear before it to show cause why it should or should not grant the enforcement of fundamental human rights prayer Shaibu tabled before the court.
At the resumed sitting of the panel yesterday, the deputy governor and his Counsel were absent, even as the chairman of the panel, Justice Stephen A. Omonua (retd), said the panel would wait to see if the defendant would open his defence and thereafter called for the defendant.
When it became apparent that the defendant, Shaibu, was absent and was not represented, Justice Omonua called for the appearance of the plaintiff, the Edo State House of Assembly, which initiated the impeachment process.
Consequently, Nurudeen U Ibrahim, Legal Officer, Edo State House of Assembly, leading two other lawyers, announced their appearance for the Assembly.
The chairman then ruled that the panel would still adjourn to give the defendant ample opportunity to appear before it to present his defence.
The panel “is adjourned for the last time to April 5, 2024, at 12 noon, to allow the defendant to present his defence,” Justice Omonua ruled.