Edo House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution asking the chief judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.

The resolution was passed during a plenary in Benin.

During the plenary, the speaker of the parliament, Blessing Agbebaku, notified the house that the seven-day ultimatum granted to the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him had expired.

Mr Agbebaku reminded the house that an impeachment notice was served on the deputy governor on March 6. However, the house ordered a substitute service due to his alleged evasion of service.

He said the substituted service was published in the Nigerian Observer and the Vanguard newspapers on March 12, adding that March 19 made it seven days by counting.

In his motion, the majority leader of the house, Charity Aiguobarueghan, moved that the chief judge be directed to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.

Nicholas Asonsere seconded the motion (PDP- Ikpoba Okha).

Aiguobarueghan disclosed that the motion was in line with the Constitution.

He said, “That the notice served on the deputy governor alleging gross misconduct be sent for investigation. And that the speaker directs the chief judge of the state to set up a seven-man committee to look at the allegations and report its findings to this house as soon as possible.”

During a vote, 19 out of the 24 members supported the motion.

The speaker asked the chief judge to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.

(NAN)