The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, has set up a seven-member panel to probe the accusations brought against the state’s deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, by the state House of Assembly.

A statement by the Registrar of the Edo State Judiciary, Benson Osagie Osawaru, sighted on Saturday morning dated 22nd March 2024, with reference number CR/4837/Vol. II/131 reads:

“This is to bring to the notice of the general public that, in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Honourable Chief Judge of Edo State, Honourable Justice D.I. Okungbowa, has constituted the PANEL OF SEVEN PERSONS to investigate the allegations contained in the impeachment notice against the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu.

“The Panel of Seven Persons is chaired by Hon.Justice S.A. Omonua (Rtd.), while other members are Professor Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Professor Boniface Onomion Edegbai, Professor Theresa Akpoghome, Mr. Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, Surv. Dr Andrew Oliha, and Mr Idris Abdulkareen.”

Recall that the Edo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, through a resolution passed by 19 out of the 24 members, directed the CJ to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate Shaibu.

Shaibu approached an Abuja Federal High Court the same day, 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 (DSS), and the Inspector General of the Police.

The court, presided over by Justice James Omotoso, did not grant Shainu’s request but said that all parties be put on notice and granted the request that the parties be served by substituted means. It adjourned the matter to April 15, 2024.