Edo State Deputy Governor Impeachment Hearing Adjourned as Defence Seeks Time

The seven-man panel, led by Justice S Omonua, investigating the impeachment petition against Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has adjourned its sitting to Friday, April 5, 2024.

The adjournment is to allow the defendant to present his defence.

This adjournment is the last in the matter, according to the panel. Professor Oladoyin Awoyale, SAN, Counsel to the respondent, withdrew from participating in the panel proceedings after the panel ruled against his motion at the inaugural sitting on Wednesday.

Awoyale had urged the panel to comply with a Federal High Court, Abuja, order by J.E. Ekwo, requesting the panel to show cause why an interlocutory injunction to maintain the status quo proceedings pending the determination of the case should not be granted to the plaintiff (Philip Shaibu).

He requested the panel to wait for the decision of the Federal High Court on the matter, slated for April 8, 2024.

At the end of Thursday’s sitting, in the absence of the defendant, the panel adjourned to Thursday for the respondent to present its defence.

However, the defendant was conspicuously absent, except for the counsel to the complainant.

Justice Omonua, before the adjournment, stated, “Records of yesterday’s sitting showed that we adjourned to today (Thursday) for the defendant to present its defence.

We will still give the defendant the opportunity to present its defence. We can see that the defendant is not here to present its defence.

As a result, we will be adjourning to Friday, April 5, 2024, for the last time for the defendant to present its defence.”