Just as he vowed to fight hours after he was impeached on Monday, April 8 as the deputy governor of Edo, Comrade Philip Shaibu is not letting go as he has taken the first leg of his post-impeachment battle to the courtyard of the Chief Judge (CJ) of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to file a formal complaint against the CJ before the National Judicial Council (NJC).
To this end, the impeached deputy governor has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to obtain a complaint form to file a formal petition against Justice Okungbowa.
Shaibu was impeached on Monday by the State House of Assembly, following the adoption of the report of Justice Stephen Omonua (Rtd), seven-man panel set up by the CJ
The impeachment panel had investigated allegations of gross misconduct and perjury levelled against Shaibu by the Assembly.
While the panel dismissed the allegation of perjury as it was not proven, it sustained the allegation of disclosure of official secrets and the former deputy governor was impeached based on that guilty verdict passed by the panel.
But, Shaibu, in a letter from the Chambers of B.I. Dakum and Co. dated April 8, 2024, applied to the CJN who doubles as Chairman of the NJC, for a leave to obtain a complaint form to file formal petition against the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.
The letter signed by Mr. Adaze A. Emwanta, a former commissioner for Information and Orientation to Governor Godwin Obaseki, seeks to institute a petition of abuse of office, official misconduct, and desecration of oath of office by the Edo Chief Judge.
Emwanta added that the letter was to formally request a complaint form as prescribed under the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, to enable his client to file his complaint against the state Chief Judge.
The letter titled: “Re: Notice to Obtain a complaint form to file a formal complaint against Hon Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State for abuse of office, official misconduct and desecrating his oath of office”, reads in part:
“We write as Solicitors to Rt Hon. Philip Shaibu, who until this morning was Deputy Governor of Edo state.
“Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu has instructed us to file a formal complaint to your Council against Hon Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo state for abuse of office, official misconduct, and desecration of his oath of office.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to formally request for a complaint form prescribed under the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, to enable our client file his complaint again the subject Judge.”
Shaibu, it be recalled, had vide a video message vowing to fight his impeachment in the law courts.