.CJ cannot undermine the judiciary – Shaibu’s aide
.CRPP condemns assembly’s move
By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – FINDINGS late Tuesday showed that the Chief Judge was yet to receive the official notification from the state house of assembly which in its sitting directed the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa to set up a seven man committee to look into the allegations of constitutional infractions by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu which the House said are impeachable offences.

   When Vanguard tried to reach the Chief Registrar of the Edo State Judiciary, Benson Osagie Osawaru his line was not available but a source in the office of the Chief Judge said Justice Okungbowa and the office of the Chief Judge was yet to receive any paper from the House.

   But the source said If there is any injunction from Abuja and my oga is served, there is nothing he can do because he has to obey court order that is if he is served. The Federal High Court is higher than the state high court but as far as he does not get any paper from the federal high court, he will work with it before him but if he gets any court paper from the Federal High Court, whatever is there will take precedence” he said.

Meanwhile Shaibu is said to be in Abuja as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/321?2024 praying the court to stop any impeachment move has adjourned till today (Wednesday) for the parties to informed and be in court to say why it should not grant the prayers of Shiabu.

  But an aide who does not want his name mentioned said “If a federal high court in Abuja which is higher than the state high courts takes a decision, will the Chief Judge go against it? The deputy governor has asked the court to stop the process so we will wait for the court. All the parties involved were all served yesterday in the intention of the Deputy Governor”  

   Meanwhile, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has condemned the decision of the state house of assembly to ahead with the impeachment of Shiabu “in spite of interventions of well-meaning Nigerians”

 In a press statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor and made available to journalists in Benin City, the Coalition said the impeachment plan was unpopular among the people of the state alleging that the bailiff sent to deliver the court summons from the Federal High Court was  “harassed and chased out by the Assembly security men on the orders of the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly.”
   He said “The assembly failed to realize that the case is not a personal issue, Those who live in glass houses must not throw stones, if they believe in justice and fair play they should gladly honour the court summons and present their allegations against the Deputy Governor in an open court instead of displaying rascality. A clean mind fears no Accusation.

   “We had earlier affirmed the innocence of the Deputy Governor of any accusation leveled against him, rather it was witch hunting and political victimization of the highest order by Governor Obaseki because his deputy dared come out to exercise his constitutional right to be voted for. As we have said earlier nobody has the right to stop anybody from exercising Constitutional right to participate in any election, Obaseki has no power to stop his Deputy to vote or be voted for.”