Edo State House of Assembly Impeaches Philip Shaibu as Deputy Governor

Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, has been impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly during its plenary session held on Monday in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.

Shaibu’s impeachment follows the adoption of a report by a seven-man committee established by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate allegations of misconduct against the deputy governor.

The impeachment occurred as a Federal High Court in Abuja was scheduled to resume sitting on a lawsuit filed by Shaibu challenging the Edo State House of Assembly’s intention to impeach him.

Last week, the impeachment proceedings against Shaibu commenced in the Edo House of Assembly, with twenty-one out of twenty-four lawmakers signing a petition for his impeachment.

During the plenary session last Tuesday, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku informed the lawmakers that the seven-day ultimatum given to Shaibu to respond to the impeachment notice had expired. The impeachment notice was served on Shaibu on March 6, 2024. However, due to Shaibu’s alleged evasion of service, the Edo House of Assembly ordered substituted service.