- Impeachment panel against Shaibu begins hearing Wednesday
The Edo State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Anthony Aziegbemi, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers as a terrible one he doesn’t wish anyone to go through.
Aziegbemi stated this on Sunday evening when the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, paid him a visit at his residence.
Gunmen kidnapped Aziegbemi close to his house on March 15 at about 11pm on Idaho Street, off Country Home Road, Benin, Edo State.
Aziegbemi was said to have left a meeting at the Government House and was going home in his vehicle when he was waylaid and kidnapped in the presence of his driver, who was attempting to climb a speed breaker.
He was released after spending 11 days in the kidnappers’ den.
The PDP boss arrived at his home at about 3am last Tuesday to the waiting arms of family members who kept vigil for his safe return throughout his ordeal.
The kidnappers were said to have asked for N500 million ransom but it was not clear if he paid for his release.
Aziegbemi told Shaibu and members of his entourage about the difficult moments he faced at the hands of his abductors.
He noted that he would not wish anyone, even his worst enemies, to go through the ordeal he had in the kidnappers’ den, recounting the trauma and fears he endured during his captivity.
He said, “I don’t wish anyone, even my worst enemies, to go through the ordeal I went through in the kidnappers’ den. The experience was traumatizing and again, I don’t wish that for anyone.”
The Deputy Governor, who disclosed that he had a personal bond with the Aziegbemis, was full of excitement while expressing joy on his safe return.
“We came to celebrate Easter with our chairman and also thank God for his safe return home from the den of kidnappers. Don’t forget I am the godfather to Aziegbemi’s twin-babies, which shows I have a personal bond with the Aziegbemis,” Shaibu noted.
Impeachment panel against Shaibu begins sitting Wednesday
Meanwhile, the impeachment process initiated against Shaibu by the state House of Assembly moved a step further as the seven-man panel constituted by the state Chief Judge, Justice, Daniel Okungbowa, announced its sitting.
In a notice issued by the panel via a press statement, said it would hold its meeting on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the Judges Conference Room, New High Court Complex, Benin, by 10.00a.m.
The statement endorsed by the panel’s Administrative Secretary, George Odidi, enjoined all parties and, or their counsels to be present on the aforementioned date, while the complainant (Edo State House Assembly), was also asked “to be ready to present its case on that day.”
The text of the one-paragraph statement titled: ‘Press Release Panel to Investigate Allegation of Misconduct of His Excellency the Deputy Governor of Edo State’, reads: “Take notice that consequent upon the inauguration of the above panel by His Lordship the Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice D.I. Okungbowa in line with Section 188 subsection 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the said Panel shall commence sitting at Judges Conference Room, New High Court Complex, Benin City on Wednesday 3° day of April, 2024 at 10:00a.m. prompt. Parties and /or their counsel are expected to be present on that day while the complainant is expected to be ready to present its case on that day.”
The Edo CJ had on Friday, March 22, 2024, constituted the seven-man panel, headed by Justice S.A. Omonuwa (Rtd) to investigate the allegations leveled Shaibu, by the state House of Assembly as part of the processes initiated by the Assembly to impeach the deputy governor.
The panel, known in political parlance as the “Committee of Seven Wise Men”, was constituted via a statement, with reference number: CR/4837 /Vol. I/131, endorsed by the Chief Registrar of the Edo State High Court, Mr. B. O. Osawaru.
In the statement empanelling the committee, the Chief Registrar stated that the CJ was acting in accordance with the powers vested on him by “Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and listed other members of the panel to include: Professor Violet Aigbokhaebo, Professor Boniface Onomion Edegbai; Professor Theresa Akpoghome; Mr. Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu; Surv. Dr. Andrew Oliha and Mr. Idris Abdulkareen.
But on Monday, March 25, 2024, a reviewed list of the panel members was also released by the Chief Registrar.
In the new list Professors Professor Violet Aigbokhaebo and Boniface Onomion Edegbai were dropped and replaced with President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.
No reason was given for dropping the two professors earlier announced.
The Edo State House of Assembly had on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, vide a resolution passed by 19 out of the 24 members, directed the CJ to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate Shaibu.
The same day, Shaibu approached an Abuja Federal High Court, asking the court, through an ex-parte motion, to restrain the Assembly, the CJ and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, from taking further action on the impeachment process pending the determination of the substantive matter before the court.
In the motion dated and filed on March 18, the Deputy Governor, through his lawyer, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale, also joined the Edo State Government, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Clerk of the Assembly, the Director General of the Department of State Security and the Inspector General of the Police
The court, presided over by Justice James Omotoso, however, turned down the request, insisting rather than all parties being put on notice and but granted the request that the parties be served by substituted means.
It adjourned the matter to April 15, 2024.
