The drama trailing the impeachment of Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu has continued to unfold.

In the last development, two members of the ‘Investigation Panel’ that was raised by the State Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, have declined their appointment.

Those that refused to serve in the highly unpopular assignment are Professor Violet Aigbokhaevbo and Prof. Boniface Onomion Edegbai.

Both professors have been replaced by Barrister President Aigbokhian and Barrister Mariam Erakhoba Ilevbare.

The latest development is contained in a release dated March 25th, 2024, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Benin City, B.O Osawaru.

A cursory study of the latest release by the Chief Judge shows parity in content with the March 22nd, 2024, release which was also signed by the Chief Registrar.

The hiccup suffered by the constitution of the panel is one of several that the Edo State Government and the State Assembly will face in the next 90 days set for the impeachment process.

Recall that the Edo State chapter of the Conference of Registered Political Party (CRPP) had urged members of the impeachment panel set up by Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate the allegations levelled against Shaibu, to decline the offer.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left) Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa

In a statement signed by its chairman, Samson Isibor and secretary, John Isidhaome, CRPP said it was obvious that the CJ was engineered to set up the panel.

The stressed that: “The announcement by the chief judge of Edo State setting up the so-called impeachment panel to probe Hon. Phillip Shaibu, did not come to us as a surprise based on the fact that he who pays or appoint the piper dictate the tune. It is clear the CJ is being engineered.

“But our arguments are very fundamental to the nascent democracy we are operating with the three arms of government, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Each arm is independent of the other, Edo State House of Assembly led by Blessing Agbebaku, rebuffed the judiciary by turning down a court summon sent by a Federal High Court delivered by a High Court bailiff.

“In fact, 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 Assembly lawmakers, now law breakers supposed to be viewed seriously as a slight on the Judiciary. It took the intervention of the judiciary for the court bailiff to paste the summon at the entrance of the Assembly,” Isibor said.

It lamented that the same judiciary quickly assented to the request of the state assembly that the chief judge should constitute a panel to probe Phillip Shaibu.

Governor Godwin Obaseki has rejected appeals by relevant legal luminaries and refused to swear-in the eight judges-designate of the Edo State High Court, who were recommended for appointment as High Court judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) since June 2023.