Blessing Agbebaku, speaker of the house, announced the suspension of the lawmakers during plenary on Monday.

Donald Okogbe, one of the suspended lawmakers, is an ally of Philip Shaibu, the former deputy governor of Edo.

Okogbe was the only lawmaker who did not sign the petition that led to Shaibu’s impeachment.

The suspended lawmakers are Okogbe (PDP Akoko-Edo 11), Bright Iyamu (PDP Orihonmwon south), and Adeh Isibor (PDP Esan north-east 1).

The speaker said the lawmakers are being used by some external forces to cause chaos, in a bid to change the leadership of the house.

After the speaker announced the suspension, there was a rowdy session in the assembly as the suspended lawmakers questioned his “unilateral decision.”

Afterwards, the speaker abruptly adjourned plenary.

In April, the assembly impeached Shaibu as the deputy governor after the report of a seven-member investigative panel was adopted.

The panel was set up by Daniel Okungbowa, chief judge of Edo, and was headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.

Shaibu was accused of “misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets”.

Subsequently, Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, picked Omobayo Godwins as his deputy.

The post Edo assembly suspends Shaibu’s ally, two lawmakers over ‘plot to impeach speaker’ appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Shaibu, who had previously accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of orchestrating his impeachment, revealed that he has forgiven the governor and is ready to reconcile with him.

Addressing the issue of campaign vehicles in his possession, Shaibu clarified that the vehicles in his possession were not new but refurbished ones that belonged to previous deputy governors. He emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability during his tenure.

He said, “The vehicles they are referring to are the two Prado SUVs used by Lucky Imasuen as the deputy governor. The other Hilux was the one (Dr Pius) Odubu’s wife used, and the Land Cruiser was the one Odubu used.

“I took all those vehicles to the mechanic who changed their engine and refurbished them. Those are the vehicles that they are telling me to return. So, you can see how heartless men can be. I got only one new vehicle in almost eight years that I served as the deputy governor of the state.”

He emphasized his commitment to activism and the need for political leaders to prioritize the welfare of the people.

On the issue of his impeachment, Shaibu criticized the process, stating that the oath of office had been breached by Governor Obaseki multiple times. He also highlighted the need for constitutional amendments to protect deputy governors from arbitrary impeachment.

The post Why I refused to return govt vehicles – ex-Edo deputy gov, Shaibu appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The Edo governor said the political permutations in the South-South state did not favour Shaibu taking over from him.

Obaseki stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.

Recall that Shaibu and Obaseki were at the crossroads over the former’s Edo State governorship ambition.

The former deputy governor was later impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly for allegedly leaking government information.

Speaking on the matter, Obaseki said, “For me, I did not understand where the ambition was coming from because it was clear that the odds were not in his favour in terms of succeeding me and I made it very clear.

“So, I could not take any risk on his ambition because I have to protect the Edo people. So, I could not take that risk on Edo people.”

Shaibu had described the development as an attack on the country’s democracy, in the wake of his impeachment.

In a social media video post, Shaibu said, “This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democracy that we hold dear. It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched;

“…because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It is an ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

The post Why I couldn’t risk backing Shaibu to succeed me – Obaseki appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Ighodalo said he didn’t instigate or fund Shaibu’s impeachment.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Media Office.

A few weeks ago, Shaibu was impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly. This followed his face-off with the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

However, Shaibu had recently alleged that Ighodalo was involved in his impeachment.

The statement by Ighodalo’s Media Office reads, “While we would not usually join issues in response to every passing comment, it has become imperative to address the recent spurious allegations by former Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu.

“It is necessary, for the record, to state in no uncertain terms that Mr Asue Ighodalo has had no role or involvement in any form whatsoever in the very public process leading to Mr Shuaibu’s impeachment and subsequent removal from office by the Edo State House of Assembly.

“These claims are completely without merit, and Mr Ighodalo categorically denies any such involvement. These allegations are a clear attempt to unjustly tarnish his reputation and divert attention from the actual issues at hand.

“We urge the public and the media to regard these false statements with well deserved skepticism. Asue Ighodalo remains focused on running a governorship campaign based on issues, and devoid of distractions.”

The post I have no hand in Shaibu’s impeachment – Edo PDP guber candidate, Asue Ighodalo appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The matter, which was before Justice Inyang Ekwo, was fixed for hearing on Friday after a team of lawyers, including Alex Ejesieme, SAN, showed up to seek a date for the case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observes that though the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/405/24, was not listed on the cause list, the lawyers, who said they were for the defence, came to the court.

Shortly before the judge rose, one of the lawyers told Justice Ekwo that the matter was scheduled to take place on Thursday, but due to the public holiday, the court did not sit. “So, in obedience to the court, we came today,” he said.

But Justice Ekwo, who held that he could not preside over a matter that was not in the file, directed them to liaise with the court registrar for the next adjourned date.

The matter was consequently fixed for April 19 for hearing.

NAN reports that in the suit dated March 26 but filed on March 27, Shaibu sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police; State Security Service (SSS) as the 1st and 2nd respondents.

He also joined Hon. Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd.), the Chairman, representing himself and members of the Panel of Seven Appointed by the 4th Defendant; the Chief Judge of Edo; and Prof. Theresa Akpoghome as 3rd to 5th respondents.

Shaibu, in the suit filed by O.A. Gbadamosi, SAN, also listed President Aigbokhian; Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu and the Edo State House of Assembly as 6th to 8th respondents, respectively.

In the originating motion on notice, a declaration is made that the threat and failure of the 3rd to 8th respondents to give him a fair hearing in the impeachment proceedings commenced by the 8th respondent is illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental right to a fair hearing, pursuant to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He sought a declaration that the failure of the 8th respondent (assembly) to serve the purported impeachment notice on him personally and on each member of the House of Assembly, in line with Section 188(2) of the 1999 Constitution, is a violation of his right to a fair hearing.

He also sought a declaration that the inclusion of the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents as chairman and members of the seven-member investigation panel to investigate allegations contained in a purported impeachment notice to the applicant is tainted by a reasonable likelihood of bias and will result in a violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to a fair hearing, guaranteed by virtue of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”

He sought an order directing the respondents not to take any further steps in violating his fundamental right to a fair hearing, guaranteed by virtue of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also sought an order directing the 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th respondents to recuse themselves from sitting as chairman and members of the 7-Man Investigating Panel appointed by the 3rd respondent, on account of the likelihood of bias on their part against him, among other reliefs.

Giving seven grounds of argument, Shaibu averred that before now, he had never been confronted with any such notice or allegations of misconduct or abuse of office or any allegations at all, whether as deputy governor or acting governor.

He said he had not been served with any letter/notice as required by Section 188(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and no privilege had been accorded him by the assembly to provide answers to any purported allegations to warrant a process targeted at his removal from office as deputy governor.

“The 3rd respondent, via a letter dated March 25, 2024, was appointed by the 4th respondent as the chairman of a panel of seven persons to investigate the allegations contained in a purported impeachment notice, which has yet to be personally served on the applicant.

“The 3rd respondent is a retired judicial officer and community leader from Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo Central Senatorial District, where there is strong clamour against the gubernatorial ambition of the applicant.

“The 3rd respondent appears to have been given the hatchet job of recommending the removal from office of the applicant, in order to weaken his political ambition of becoming governor of Edo State.

“The 4th respondent, being a protégé of the 3rd respondent, appointed him as chairman of the Investigating Panel, when other persons he offered the same appointment rejected it because it was a politically motivated job,” he said, among other grounds.

NAN reports that Shaibu was impeached on Monday by the state’s house of assembly after a seven-man panel found him guilty of perjury and leaking of the government’s secrets.

The retired Justice Omonuwa-led panel, which had its inaugural sitting on April 3 in Benin, ended its sitting on April 5 with Shaibu or his counsel failing to show up.

The post Impeachment: Court to hear Shaibu’s suit against assembly, others April 19 appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Tenebe was said to have paid a solidarity visit to Shaibu at his Abuja residence on Wednesday.

Shaibu, who is a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, was sacked on Monday by the House of Assembly, and Governor Godwin Obaseki replaced him immediately with Marvellous Omobayo.

As seen in a viral video, Tenebe described Shaibu’s impeachment as a sham and urged the former deputy governor to use all legal means to upturn the action, assuring him that he would not be abandoned.

He said, “I am here to pay you this solidarity visit because I still regard you as the deputy governor of Edo State. That sham they did in the state House of Assembly is a disgrace to the governor, and it is an aberration to our democracy, which I know that the court will not allow to stand.

“You are somebody who stood out. The price you paid is the price of loyalty. You were loyal, even to the detriment of the people you started with. You paid that price.

“We just celebrated Easter, and we know the price Jesus Christ paid. He died for our sins. What has happened is a replica of what Jesus Christ did for humanity. Today, they removed you as the deputy governor, but we still regard you as the deputy governor.

“You have paid the price to ensure that Obaseki and his likes are rooted out of the state. I can tell you that we will not allow you to walk alone. We are with you.

“You are a strong man, and I am here as the chairman of the APC in Edo State to implore you to continue to pursue this matter in court. We will be with you all through, and God is your strength.

“When one door is closed, many more are opened, and many are opened for you from today. That is what the detractors don’t know. Be strong, and we will march on together.”

Shaibu said his removal by the Edo State House of Assembly will not stand the test of time.

He said he was sacked because of the September 21 governorship election in the state.

Tenebe’s visit to Shaibu came barely 24 hours after some APC faithful in Etsako West local government area protested against the planned return of Shaibu to the APC.

Shaibu said, “My removal by the Edo State House of Assembly will not stand the test of time. I was impeached because of the September 21 governorship election in the state.

“Chairman, we have shared a lot of things, both good and bad, together. I am deeply humbled and happy that even this situation has brought us together as one. You are one person that I have always admired, someone that I grew up with.

“The person who actually separated us has also united us, and that is the beauty of what has happened. I want to assure you that as we move on, just like you said, this whole thing happened between Lent and Ramadan. The lessons are obvious. I am not ready to change my attitude, I am ready to be a loyal friend and partner.

“What has happened will not change my quest to be loyal to anybody that I will work with, and I will encourage anybody to be loyal to their boss.

“I was a loyal person, and I am still loyal. The price of loyalty is success and impeachment that have happened. It is clear that God wants to open a new chapter

“My chairman, I call you my chairman because you are already my chairman and I think you are also one of the reasons why they hurriedly did what they did because they know what it takes for you and I to be together. They thought they could use impeachment to get me to succumb, but you know that I won’t succumb.

“I am somebody who is strong-willed, and when I mean something, I mean it. When I look at the whole thing, I am paying the price for my strong will. I also believe that it is only the man that God impeaches that is impeached, and by the grace of God, I know the judiciary will do the needful.

“I want to assure you of my cooperation, and my loyalty will remain my weapon, and I will definitely be there at all times. I think our next target is September 21, and by the grace of God, we will get there.”

The post You won’t walk alone, Edo APC chairman tells Shaibu appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Shaibu was impeached on Monday by the State House of Assembly following the adoption of the report of a seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of the State.

The impeachment panel had to investigate allegations of misconduct and perjury levelled against the former Deputy Governor by the House.

Shaibu, in a letter from the Chambers of B.I. Dakum and Co. dated April 8, 2024, applied to the CJN, who doubles as Chairman of the National Judicial Council, for a leave to obtain a complaint form to file a formal petition against the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.

The letter, signed by Barrister Adaze A. Emwanta, a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation to Governor Godwin Obaseki, seeks to institute a petition of abuse of office, official misconduct, and desecration of the oath of office by the Edo Chief Judge.

Emwanta added that the letter was to formally request for a complaint form as prescribed under the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, to enable his client file his complaint against the state Chief Judge.

The letter titled Re: Notice to Obtain a Complaint Form to File a Formal Complaint against Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State, for abuse of office, official misconduct, and desecrating his oath of office, reads in part:

“We write as solicitors to Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, who until this morning was Deputy Governor of Edo State.

“Rt Hon Philip Shaibu has instructed us to file a formal complaint to your council against Hon Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State, for abuse of office, official misconduct, and desecration of his oath of office.

“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to formally request a complaint form prescribed under the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, to enable our client to file his complaint again with the subject judge.”

The post Impeachment: Shaibu seeks CJN’s nod to forward petition against Edo CJ appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

In the clip, Shaibu can be seen praying for Godwins at an event.

“From strength to strength and from glory to glory. And because I’m older than him, he’s supposed to be better than me, and that is why I prayed for him to grow higher than me,” the former deputy governor said in Pidgin English.

NewMailNG could not immediately ascertain when the video was recorded.

Shaibu was impeached as deputy governor of the state on Monday, following the adoption of the report of a seven-member investigative panel.

He was accused of “misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets.”.

Some social media users said Shaibu’s prayer for Godwins was prescient given all that has transpired.

“I think life itself is a mystery. Just months ago, impeached deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, proclaimed that the present deputy governor, Omobayo Marvellous Godwins, would be greater than him,” an X user tweeted.

“Months down the line, he took over his office.”

Godwins was sworn in as deputy governor immediately after Shaibu’s impeachment.

The post Months ago, Shaibu prayed for Omobayo Godwins to be higher than him appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Shaibu was impeached on Monday after members of the Edo Assembly adopted the report of a seven-member investigative panel.

The panel was set up by Daniel Okungbowa, chief judge of Edo, and was headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.

Shaibu was accused of “misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets.”.

Subsequently, Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, picked Omobayo Godwins as his deputy.

Godwin has just been sworn in as the number two citizen of Edo.

Speaking in a video posted on his X handle, Shaibu said the allegations levelled against him by the lawmakers were “trumped-up charges” and a smokescreen to conceal the real motive of those who wanted him out.

The embattled deputy governor said he was impeached because of his desire to contest the 2024 Edo governorship election.

“I denounce in the strongest terms the illegal impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly over trumped-up charges. This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democratic principles we hold dear,” he said.

“It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the 2024 Edo state governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party. An ambition that is a legal right of all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is a sad reality that, in our political landscape, ambition is met with resistance, and those in power seek to silence opposition through illegitimate means. I have dedicated my life to serving the good people of Edo State with integrity and honesty.”

The post Shaibu rejects impeachment by Edo assembly, says it’s a dangerous descent to anarchy appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The 38-year-old Omobayo is scheduled to be sworn in at the Edo government house in Benin City, the state capital, in the next couple of hours. 

Born on July 19, 1986, Omobayo hails from Akoko Edo LGA of the state.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical electronics, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Shaibu was impeached on Monday by the Edo House of Assembly.

His impeachment followed the adoption of the report of a seven-man investigative panel.

The panel was set up by Daniel Okungbowa, chief judge of Edo, and was headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.

Shaibu was accused of “misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets.”.

Obaseki fell out with Shaibu after the latter showed interest in contesting the governorship election.

The post Obaseki appoints 38-year-old Omobayo to replace impeached Shaibu as Edo deputy governor appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.