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Impeachment: Shaibu leaked govt secrets, assembly tells panel

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Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu

Impeachment: Shaibu leaked govt secrets, assembly tells panel

The Edo State House of Assembly revealed on Wednesday how the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, allegedly divulged government secrets and committed perjury, both of which are impeachable offences.

The Assembly, represented by its Deputy Clerk, Joe Ohaifa, presented its case at the first meeting of the seven-member panel investigating Shaibu.

The panel, headed by retired Justice S.A. Omonuwa, was constituted by the Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, at the request of the state Assembly, which initiated impeachment procedures against the deputy administration on March 5.

The Assembly said the impeachment proceedings were based on a petition accusing Shaibu of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.

The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest to join this year’s Edo governorship race.

Stating the Assembly case, the Deputy Clerk said Shaibu leaked the state’s secrets in the affidavit he filed in support of an Abuja lawsuit.

He said Shaibu rendered documents relating to the State Executive Council’s meeting.

According to Ohaifa, Shaibu violated the Oath of Secrecy he took and acted contrary to the provisions of Schedule 7 of the 1999 Constitution.

The panel, after hearing the Assembly’s case, adjourned till today (Thursday), for Shaibu to enter his defence.

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Earlier at the proceedings, Shaibu’s lawyer, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), had excused himself from the hearing after the panel declined his application to suspend the proceedings.

Awoyale, in his submission, urged the panel to halt the impeachment proceedings pending the outcome of a suit filed by Shaibu before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Awoyale told the panel that the Abuja court had fixed April 8 for parties in the suit to appear to show cause why it should not grant Shaibu’s prayer for an interlocutory injunction to halt the impeachment proceedings.

But opposing the prayer, the Deputy Clerk said by virtue of Section 188 (10) of the 1999 Constitution, no court had the right to prevent the House of Assembly, or the seven-man panel from performing their constitutional duties.

Ohiafi said Shaibu’s lawyer must convince the panel that the provision of the constitution had been altered for the panel to sustain his argument.

In his ruling, the panel chairman, Justice Omonuwa, agreed with Ohiafi.

The retired judge noted that the invitation for the parties to show cause was not an order to halt the impeachment proceedings.

Justice Omonuwa said the panel would continue with the proceedings and asked the House of Assembly to state its case.

Responding to the ruling, Awoyale told the panel that his client would not be able to continue to participate in the investigation and sought the panel’s permission to be excused.

When asked whether he was waiving his right to defend his client, the SAN answered in the negative, stressing that parties must obey the court decision and that they should appear before it to show cause.

Probed further if he was “arresting the ruling of the panel”, Awoyale answered again in the negative and reiterated the need to obey the court which would be sitting on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Impeachment: Shaibu leaked govt secrets, assembly tells panel

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Reps order arrest of 4 accused of slapping female doctor while passing a walkway

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Reps order arrest of 4 accused of slapping female doctor while passing a walkway

Rep. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the Committee, made the committee’s stand known shortly after members carried out an oversight visit at the FMC Keffi in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state on Wednesday.

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Nigerians attack Reno Omokri for calling Fubara ‘bushman’

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Reno Omokri

Nigerians attack Reno Omokri for calling Fubara ‘bushman’

A former presidential aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has been described as a man who cannot “win a position in history  church prayer meeting group not to talk about a government position.”

These were the remarks of a cross-section of Nigerians who criticized Omokri for describing the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as a “bushman.”

Omokro, in a statement on Wednesday, described Fubara as a classless politician who acts like a “militant in the creek.”

The social media influencer remarked while commenting on the ongoing feud between the Rivers state governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

Omokri mentioned that the governor of Rivers State is a ‘tactless’ politician who is “not refined and does not project much intellectual prowess.”

The self-acclaimed table shaker raised concerns that the political tension in the state may spread across the country, having negative effects.

He therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ameliorate the feud in the state.

“If their blustering will start and end in Rivers, okay. But it will not end there. The contagious effect may have seismic consequences for our country. Rivers needs an outside force to act as Big Brother. Rivers needs presidential intervention,” Omokri stated.

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Reacting to Omokri’s statement, Ovih Williams said, “It seems you know a lot about Nigerian politics, but what’s stopping you from getting a ticket and running for public office? Oh, let’s guess, you can’t even win a position in your church prayer meeting group not to talk about a government position.”

He adds, “No one can and will trust you with power; your forked tongue will not allow anyone to entrust you with a ticket or an appointment because you will surely betray them in the end, like you did Atiku Abubakar.

“What’s funny is you now doing everything humanly possible to wow the same @officialABAT you called “thief!, ole!!, drug dealer!!!, etc.” just months ago.”

Osadolo Osazeme, in his reaction, mentioned that “Reno is taking trash. If Reno were in Fubara’s shoes, I guess he would do worse to sustain his seat. Imagine Reno selling his soul for Tinubu after campaigning for Atiku in the 2023 presidential election.”

Abdulrahman Abdulrajid berated Omokri, saying, “You never stand for truth. You were defending the action of Ododo for interfering with the EFCC by arresting Yahaya Bello. Now You are taking sides against Fubara.”

He adds, “You talking rubbish! Are you encouraging God-fatherism or what? You didn’t see those videos of how the local government chairman insulted him! Did you know how many people’s properties were demolished in River State?”

“I disagree with you. Gov. Fubara is not a Bushman,” Agba Nwagbegbe noted.

“He represents the interests of the Rivers people. And he didn’t allow the bombing of the HOA. You don’t know what happened there. Rivers State will not be controlled by foreign players; the people of Rivers decide,” he adds.

Amb Mike Damisa, wrote, “I’m disappointed at Reno Omokri; I never saw your write-up condemning Wike’s boys trying to remove a sitting governor for no crime committed just 6 months after he assumed power as Governor of Rivers State, and you never make reference to the status of the defected assembly members, but the same you brag daily on how your father saved Peter Obi during his time as Governor of Anambra State.

“The same you that wants a better Nigeria! Wike shouldn’t be in existence politically if Nigeria needs a fresh air.”

Malam Lukman stated, “Sir, you are taking sides here. After calling Fubara all sorts of names, call Wike with the names he deserves too.

“Wike isn’t perfect, and in this matter, he’s at fault too. He initiated this in the first place. Why are you scapegoating Fubara all of a sudden? No, I don’t agree with you here.”

Tamuno Nengi also commented, “I’ve never expected anything reasonable from you, and you never even try to prove me wrong. You keep jumping from pillar to post. We are waiting for you to grow the naira with caps from Katangwa and walking sticks from Panya.”

Nigerians attack Reno Omokri for calling Fubara ‘bushman’

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Medical activities paralysed in A’Ibom as doctors begin strike over abducted colleague

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Medical activities paralysed in A’Ibom as doctors begin strike over abducted colleague

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Akwa Ibom has embarked on an industrial action over the abduction of one of its members two weeks ago.

The association suspended medical services across all government and private hospitals in the State due to the continued incarceration of the kidnapped member.

Recall that gunmen had on April 30, 2024, abducted a senior member of the doctors’ association, Dr John Esu at Oron local government area.

Dr Esu’s prolonged captivity has compelled the furious medics to stop work, attributing the development to the insensitivity of government and security agencies towards the safety of lives and properties of the people, including medical workers.

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NMA State Chairman, Prof. Emem Abraham said the strike became imperative to draw the attention of the government and security agencies to the plights of medical workers.

Abraham ordered all members including consultants to the state government and privately owned hospitals to withdraw their services saying the action would be reviewed after 72 hours.

“The NMA, Akwa Ibom State has resolved to withdraw services from all government and private hospitals in sympathy with our member who had been in captivity for over 15 days. The withdrawal of services takes immediate effect and shall be reviewed after 72 hours.

“The entire members of our association have been psychologically traumatised by this unfortunate situation, and are not in any good frame of mind to continue serving the public, while Dr. John Esu remains in the kidnappers’ den.”

Medical activities paralysed in A’Ibom as doctors begin strike over abducted colleague

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