By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
As the seven days ultimatum for the state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu to respond to the impeachment notice served on him by the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) gradually fades out and he is yet to acknowledge it, the house has said further that the notice will be published in the Nigerian Observer Newspapers and other national dailies.
This according to the house, is sequel to the refusal of the deputy governor to acknowledge the impeachment notice.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku who stated this at plenary today explained that the action became necessary because the deputy governor refused to acknowledge an earlier impeachment notice sent to him through the clerk of the house.
The latest move by the house is to ensure all grounds are explored to adequately serve the impeachment notice to elicit his response within the seven day ultimatum given by the house.
Recall that the crisis rocking the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, took a new dimension on the 6th of this month as 21 members of the state house of assembly out of 24 signed the impeachment notice on him (Shaibu).
The Majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, who announced the impeachment notice during plenary, said the petition dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the deputy governor.
Aiguobarueghian stated that the number of members who signed the petition were more than the two- third requirement stipulated in the constitution.
He also announced that the petition was based on two grounds of perjury and revealing of government secrets
The speaker of the house, Blessing Agbebaku who acknowledged receipt of the petition, directed the clerk of the house, Yahaya Omogbai to serve the impeachment notice on the deputy governor.
Agbebaku also gave the deputy governor seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.