The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday removed the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu at a plenary where the lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for the removal, and was subsequently replaced by a 39-year-old Omobayo Godwins
Penpushing reports that Shaibu removal followed the adoption of the recommendation of a seven-member judicial panel led by a retired judge, Justice Stephen Omonua, while the Majority leader of the House, Hon Charity Aiguobarueghian, said the report of the panel presented to the House found Shaibu culpable for disclosure of government secrets.
The majority leader explained that though the panel was unable to establish the case of perjury against the Shaibu, it made two findings and one recommendation upon which the decision to impeach him was anchored.
Penpushing further reports that Aiguobarueghian, stated that the seven-man judicial panel of inquiry recommended that the Deputy Governor be impeached on ground of disclosure of government secrets, and during voting on the motion, 18 out of 19 members present at plenary voted for the removal of Shaibu while one abstained from the head count and voting process.
The Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, conducted a head count of the lawmakers who voted for and against the removal of the Deputy Governor, explaining that with the figure, the house stated that it met 2/3 (16 members of the House was needed to carry out the impeachment).
Penpushing also reports that the assembly thereafter upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-member panel and thereafter sacked the deputy governor, while the Speaker, Rt Hon Blessing Agbebaku, directed the Clerk of the House to forward copies of the Impeachment to Governor Godwin Obaseki for assent.
The new Deputy Governor was thereafter sworn in by the Chief Judge of Edo State,Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who equally administered the oath of office at the Government House in Benin, the state capital.
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