By Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

The seven-man panel investigating allegations of constitutional breaches against the Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu on Friday concluded its sitting without Shaibu or his counsel appearing.

The panel is expected to forward its report to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.

The seven-man panel headed by Justine Stephen A. Omonuwa (Rtd) had on Thursday ruled that it would adjourn for the last time on Friday to give the respondent, Shaibu, to defend the allegations levelled against him before the panel.

Thursday’s ruling by the panel was a sequel to the absence of Shaibu and his counsel when the panel sat on Thursday.

At the panel’s inaugural sitting on Wednesday, Shaibu was represented by Professor Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN). He informed the panel that he would not be continuing with the panel’s proceedings on the ground that an Abuja High Court had asked all parties before it in a case of enforcement of fundamental human rights instituted by him to come on Monday, April 8, 2024, to show cause on why or not it should grant the reliefs sought.

When the panel overruled the objection, Awoyale (SAN) sought the permission of the panel to excuse himself.

Ruling on the development, the chairman of the panel said that “the panel adjourned sitting for the last time for today to allow the respondent to defend himself.

“The panel shall retire to go and write its report as required by the constitution,”  Justice Omonuwa (Rtd)  ruled.

A member of the administrative staff of the panel who did not want his name mentioned told journalists that the panel would forward its report to the Edo State CJ, Justice Okungbowa.