Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, is taking legal action to prevent his impeachment following the initiation of an impeachment notice against him by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Shaibu, who is engaged in a political conflict with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, has reportedly approached the court in Abuja to obtain a restraining order against the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
Although, the Chief Press Secretary to Shaibu, Musa Ebomhiana, declined to comment when reached for a reaction, an anonymous source close to Shaibu confirmed that legal papers are being filed to halt the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly, the Speaker, and the Edo State Chief Judge.
The political challenges faced by Shaibu within the Obaseki administration are linked to his insistence on contesting the Edo 2024 governorship ticket against Obaseki’s political associate, Asue Ighodalo. Ighodalo recently emerged as the PDP governorship candidate at the party primaries in Benin.
Recall that, on Wednesday, during plenary, the Edo State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu. Majority Leader Charity Aiguobarueghian announced the impeachment notice, stating that the petition, dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the deputy governor.
Aiguobarueghian emphasized that the number of members who signed the petition exceeded the two-thirds requirement stipulated in the constitution. The grounds for the petition were cited as perjury and revealing of government secrets.
Acknowledging receipt of the petition, Speaker Hon Blessing Agbebaku directed the clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve the impeachment notice on the deputy governor. Agbebaku also granted Shaibu seven days to respond to the impeachment notice.
