CRPP Calls on Edo Impeachment Panel to Reject Offer
The Conference of Registered Political Parties, CRPP has called on the impeachment panel members to jettison the offer
The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on Friday, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, by the state House of Assembly.
This is part of the processes initiated by the assembly to impeach the deputy governor.
The panel was constituted on via a statement, with reference number: CR/4837 /Vol. I/131, endorsed by the Chief Registrar of the Edo State High Court, B. O. Osawaru.
According a statement, the panel is headed by a retired justice, Justice S.A. Omonua.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman CRPP Edo State, Dr. Samson Isibor, the development not a surprise but worrisome and threatening to the nascent democracy.
“It did not come to us as a surprise based on the fact that he who pays or appoint the piper dictate the tune. But our arguments are very fundament to the nascent democracy we are operating with the 3 arms of Government. the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary, each arm is independent of the other, Edo State house of Assembly led by Hon Blessing Agbebaku, rebuff the judiciary by turning down a court summon sent by a Federal High Court delivered by a High court bailiff infact the court bailiff was harassed and chased away by the House of Assembly security men on the order of the house of Assembly leadership, these actions of the Edo state Assembly lawmakers, now law breakers supposed to be viewed seriously as a slight on the Judiciary, the same Judiciary assented to the request of the state assembly that the Chief Judge should constitute a panel to probe Phillip Shaibu which the Chief Judge quickly assented to, the Chief Judge actions leaves much to be desired he has been quiet about the rascality of the assembly leadership.”
It appealed to the panel to jettison the appointment on moral ground for posterity sake.
“We are therefore appealing to the moral instinct of the panel members to turn down their appointments individually or collectively on moral ground justice and fair play more so the Deputy Governor have served Obaseki, the house of assembly originating summons by a court of competant jurisdiction we believe it should not be floated.”
“A case in point is that of Ondo State where the Chief Judges on two different occasions stood their ground and refused to do the biddings of the power that be and that of the State Assembly. Peace there after returned to Ondo State automatically. The Chief Judge of Edo State should emulate those 2 Chief Judges of Ondo State. For the umpteenth time we advise the outgoing Governor to heed the appeal of well-meaning Nigerians to discontinue is desirous decision to impeach his deputy more so that he have few months to leave the office as a governor, power transcend is not permanent, he should remember tomorrow.”
