Politics

Update: We have not halted Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment process- Ondo Assembly

By Web News 345

The Ondo State House of Assembly has affirmed that the ongoing impeachment process against the deputy governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa has not been suspended as earlier reported in the media.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Olatunji Oshati, on Friday, told a journalist that the House had halted the impeachment process after the state Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, had communicated to it his inability to constitute a panel to investigate the allegation against the deputy governor, following a court order.

He said, “We have considered the letter (of the CJ) which is everywhere in the public domain and we are halting the impeachment process until the order of the Federal High Court is vacated.

“It is not about being arrogant with power, it is about holding public officers accountable. It also shows that the process of impeachment transcends the monopoly of the legislature as we can see that the judiciary has stalled it.”

However, the House, through its lawyer, Mr Femi Emodamori, stated again that it had not suspended the process, saying it would pursue it to a logical conclusion.

This was contained in a statement issued by the legal practitioner on behalf of the Assembly, on Saturday.

The statement partly reads, “Impeachment is a constitutional process clearly outlined in section 188 (1)-(11) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and our Client has meticulously complied with all the stages leading up to the obligation placed on the state chief judge to set up a 7-man panel to investigate the allegations, as stipulated in Section 188(5) of the Constitution.

“The notice of allegations of gross misconduct was signed by 11 members of the House and presented to its speaker on 20th September, 2023 in strict compliance with Section 188(2) of the Constitution, which requires at least one-third of the 26 House members to sign and present the notice to the speaker. That is the first stage in the impeachment process.

“The speaker, in turn, served the notice on the deputy governor on 25th September 2023 and also caused same to be served on all the other members of the House, in strict compliance with the same Section 188(2) of the Constitution which requires him to do so within seven days. That was the second stage.

“The third stage, as stated in Section 188(3) of the Constitution, requires a two-third majority of the members to pass a motion within 14 days after the notice of allegation(s) of gross misconduct was first presented to the speaker, for the investigation of the allegation (s) and request the state chief judge to set up the 7-man panel to investigate same.

“Our client meticulously complied with the said Section 188(3) of the Constitution. 23 out of its 26 members (more than the minimum two-third majority required) passed that motion on the 3rd of October, 2023. Section 188(5) of the Constitution further states that after the motion is passed by the two-third majority, the speaker should formally request the state Chief Judge to set up the seven-man panel.

It added, “The speaker diligently complied with this on the same 3rd October when the motion was passed. It was at this stage that His Lordship, the Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State, replied to the House, stating that he received an ex parte Order which the deputy governor secured from the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court on 26th September 2023, ‘restraining’ his lordship from setting up the panel, pending when the court would hear all the parties in the case to determine the merit of the application or the case filed by the deputy governor.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 188(10) of the Constitution clearly states that The proceedings or determination of the House or Panel or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall not be questioned or entertained in any court”, and there are too many judgments of the highest courts in Nigeria affirming that no court has the jurisdiction to dabble into an impeachment process, as long as the House of Assembly complies with all the constitutional process.”

“The Honourable Chief Judge himself stated in his widely reported reply to my client,  that his lordship was not unmindful of the above provisions of Section 188(10) of the Constitution and even quoted it verbatim.

“His lordship however stated that as a Chief Judge, he would prefer that the ex parte order, which his lordship believes ‘tied his hand’, should first be vacated or set aside. The chief judge prefers to err on the side of caution.”

The statement further stated that the position of the Assembly was that, despite their reservations about in the face of the provisions of “Section 188(10) of the Constitution and the judgments of the  appellate courts stating that no court has the power to question or entertain any matter relating to the impeachment, they would, for now, show sufficient understanding of the delicate position the Hon. Chief Judge has found himself, by promptly taking the necessary legal steps to vacate or quash the order and/or the entire suit at the Federal High Court, to untie  the hands of his lordship and proceed with the impeachment to a logical conclusion.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Politics

Ondo Assembly Halts Impeachment Process against Deputy Gov.

By Web News 463

The Ondo State House of Assembly said it had halted the impeachment proceedings against the state Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The House said it took the decision during its plenary session on Thursday following the refusal of the state Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to set up a panel to probe the embattled deputy governor.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Olatunji Oshati, who stated this on Friday, said the House would abide by the order of the court, hence the suspension of the proceedings on the impeachment.

He said, “We have considered the letter which is everywhere in the public domain and we are halting the impeachment process until the order of the Federal High Court is vacated.

“It is not about being arrogant with power, it is about holding public officers accountable. It also shows that the process of impeachment transcends the monopoly of the legislature as we can see that the judiciary has stalled it. This is to show that it is not a witch-hunt, it is about carrying out our oversight functions.”

The CJ had communicated to the Assembly on Wednesday informing it of his inability to set up the panel. The CJ was said to have cited a subsisting court’s ex parte order restraining him from carrying out the directive of the Assembly.

A source in the Assembly, who confirmed the development said, “The CJ has reached out to Mr Speaker that he cannot set up a seven-member panel to probe the deputy governor as directed by the House, claiming that his hands are tied by the ex parte order issued by Justice Emeka Nwite, stopping the impeachment process.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Politics

Edo Assembly Sits with No Let in Shaibu/Obaseki’s Tango

By Web News 421

The Edo polity is astir following the raging feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu. Both camps were wrapped in anxiety, suspense and apprehension ahead of today’s resumption of sitting of the state House of Assembly.

Shaibu is battling perceived impeachment moves against him. The apprehension is over whether or not the lawmakers will embark on the purported impeachment plot of the deputy governor despite the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court directive of maintaining “status quo ante bellum” pending the determination of the suit filed by Shaibu to stop the alleged plot to remove him.

However, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr.  Blessing Agbebaku, said though the matter is in court, he cannot say much on the issue, adding there is no plan to impeach the deputy governor.

Agbebaku: “I don’t want to talk about it because the case is in court but there is no plan like that. There is no iota of truth about this issue of impeachment and the governor has no such plans because if there is anything like that, won’t I know? People are just carrying rumours.”

Legislators fault Shaibu on court action

Nevertheless, some lawmakers are not happy with Shaibu over his court action.  “The deputy governor going to court is, on its own, impeachable”, a principal officer said.

Continuing, he said “When you see the contents of the court documents, they are all speculative and breaches of the oath of secrecy he swore to when he was inaugurated.

“There is no plan like that at all. It was shocking to us when we got the court papers. Going through the papers, the content is enough to even commence impeachment but there is nothing like that” he said.

Shaibu’s camp keeps mute

The camp of Shaibu has decided to remain silent so as not to aggravate the crisis.  Contacted, a close ally of the deputy governor said: “We don’t want to aggravate the issue because the situation is delicate.”

Dep gov expected back today

Contrary to speculations that Shaibu ran away from the state, his aides said he has been in the United States of America, USA,  to attend the annual Afemai World Congress, AWC, and he is expected back in Nigeria on Sunday and “we are expecting him to resume today (Monday).

“So we don’t know what is going to happen when he resumes based on the fact that we have heard that they are going to lock his office,” one of them said.

Will Obaseki move against Shaibu today?

There are fears that the state government would move against Shaibu  this week barring last minute change of plan despite the pronouncement of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, which ruled last Friday that all parties maintain “Status Quo Ante Bellum”, pending the hearing slated for Thursday, 10Th August, 2023.  

Recall that Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja issued a temporary order stopping the move by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to impeach Shaibu.

Shaibu approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to stop the commencement of an impeachment process against him.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023, the Inspector General of Police;  State Security Service; the Governor of Edo State; the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge of Edo State are the first, second, third, fourth and fifth defendants respectively.

Shaibu is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants/Respondents or their agents from commencing an impeachment process against him.

He also prayed the court to restrain the governor of the state or other person acting on his order from harassing and preventing him from effectively discharging his duties as the deputy governor of the state.

In addition to the temporary order to maintain status quo ante bellum, in another ruling of the court made on July 27, 2023, the defendants were directed to show cause. 

Why Obaseki, Shaibu’re bickering

Many political analysts predicted that they would fall apart particularly when it became obvious that Shaibu is interested in succeeding Obaseki in 2024.

However none of the analysts predicted that it would come so soon, about one year and four months to the end of their tenure.

Shaibu has been consulting within Edo, Nigeria and in the Diaspora about his ambition to succeed his boss in 2024. However, Shaibu’s ambition did not get the blessing of his Obasekil even though he told the governor he was still consulting.

From the governor’s end, his supporters claimed that he had concluded that the governorship would not be zoned to Edo North where immediate past governor and Senator, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Shaibu hail from.  

Obaseki seems to be favouring Edo Central Senatorial District and analysts also argued that if by any chance it goes to Edo North, it should not be Etsako West where Oshiomhole and Shaibu come from.

Etsako East, Etsako Central, Owan West, Owan East and Akoko-Edo are the other local government areas that make up Edo North Senatorial District.

As a loyal deputy, who had enjoyed so much support from his principal that at a point Shaibu was seen as the most influential deputy governor in the country, which earned him several awards especially in the area of sports which the governor had given him freely to handle, it was gathered that the governor was miffed at his ambition.

It was gathered that the governor had also expressed his misgivings on his grip of the politics in Edo North as Vanguard gathered that he has been in charge of all appointments from Edo North yet, he has not been able to deliver in elections which it was gathered led the governor to insist that he should be meeting with stakeholders of the party in the area including people like Chief Dan Orbih, Pascal Ugbome, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe and others who are all from the area.

Multiple sources in Edo Government House told Vanguard that Shaibu approached the court on his purported impeachment to raise false alarm because he knew that his actions and utterances have been antithetical to what the administration of Obaseki stands for.

It is believed that he wants to keep his position as the deputy governor despite his alleged moves.

Some politicians alleged that Shaibu boasted recently that he would adopt the style of the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike even as it was alleged that he was already in talks with the All Progressives Congress, APC, at national level to decamp allegedly using members of PDP from the state who had decamped to APC.

Shaibu’s aides come to his defence

A close political associate to Shaibu expressed shock that thoughts of impeaching Shaibu could be contemplated, saying that it is the right of Shaibu to aspire to any political office he desires.

He said: “Whatever the situation is, Comrade Shaibu has the right to contest, he said he is still consulting and that the response he gets from his consultation would determine his next line of action.

“We expected that some of these things will happen along the line but I didn’t expect it so soon, the governor still has over a year and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  has not released the timetable for the Edo election and this is already happening.

“I can confidently tell you that those allegations against Shaibu are false. 

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Politics

Impeachment: NACOMYO Makes Case for Olaniyan

By Web News 565


National Council of Muslim Youths Organisations,  NACOMYO has appealed to lawmakers in Oyo State to avoid plunging the state into another round of political crisis with the planned impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan.

This is contained in a statement issued in Ibadan and signed by the Coordinator, NACOMYO, Oyo State Chapter, Alhaji Dawood Afolabi.

The council opined that the decision of the lawmakers could not be dissociated from the defection of Engineer  Olaniyan from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the opposition party All Progressives Congress, APC.

The group enjoined the speaker,  Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin and the other members of the state assembly to learn from the quashed impeachment of former governor Rashidi Ladoja and its attendant crises and halt without further delay the process of Impeachment of the Deputy Governor. 

“The process,” the group said, “if continued will expose the legislature to an avalanche of legal landmines that will not profit anyone as one of the counts against the deputy governor is misappropriation of money whereas  the deputy governor is not in charge of money”

NACOMYO urged  Governor Seyi Makinde not to allow himself to be distracted in the task of building the state taking the state with the removal of Engr Olaniyan, rather he should endeavor to mend fences with his deputy and move on.

It would be recalled that on Wednesday this week 24 out of the 33 lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly had signed the impeachment notice forwarded to the Deputy Governor by the Clerk of the House, Yetunde Awe where he was asked to respond to the allegations leveled against him within seven days.

Ridwan Fasasi

Politics

Why Ogun Deputy Speaker Was Impeached

By Web News 745

The Ogun State House of Assembly, OGHA, has impeached its deputy Speaker, Mr Oludare Kadiri having found him guilty of acts of gross misconduct.

The removal of the Deputy Speaker followed the presentation of the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the “Petition for Removal of the Deputy Speaker”. 

Oluwatoyin Adegoke has the rest of the story.

Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Foreign

Impeachment: Graphic Video Shown as Trump Called ‘Inciter in Chief

By Web News 604

Senators at Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial have been shown new dramatic and graphic video of the day his supporters stormed the US Congress.

The footage showed police engaging in hand-to-hand clashes with rioters and desperately pleading for support.

Officers ushered politicians to safety, sometimes within metres of the mob breaking into the chambers.

Using Mr Trump’s own words and tweets, Democrats prosecuting the case argued he had acted as “inciter in chief”.

A two-thirds majority is required to convict Mr Trump in the evenly split 100-seat Senate, but an acquittal looks likely as the vast majority of Republican senators have remained loyal to him so far.

However, if convicted, he could be barred from holding office again.

In at times emotional testimony, impeachment managers – the Democrats tasked with leading the prosecution – methodically pieced together the 6 January attack on the Capitol.

The building was stormed after thousands gathered in support of false claims that widespread fraud denied Mr Trump victory in the November presidential election. Five people died, including a Capitol police officer.

What did the video show?

The previously unreleased security footage revealed how rioters, including some in body armour, violently breached the building and sought out those who had gathered to certify the election result.

In frenzied audio, security officials were heard describing how crowds were using weapons like bats and tear gas against them.

In one clip, Republican senator and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney was seen walking towards the rioters before being ushered to safety by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman.

Another video showed Vice-President Mike Pence and his family being evacuated amid chants by some in the crowd to “hang” him for refusing to object to certifying the result.

In another sequence, staffers of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were heard whispering in hiding as rioters breached her office and called out: “Where are you, Nancy”.

Graphic mobile phone footage showed a Trump supporter being shot dead as she tried to enter the House of Representatives’ lobby and another video showed a riot police officer screaming out in pain as he was crushed in a doorway by the mob.

How did the Democrats present their case?

Senators sat through the first day of evidence in which each side has 16 hours to present their case. Lead prosecution manager Jamie Raskin argued Mr Trump was no “innocent bystander” to the violence having “praised, encouraged and cultivated” it for months.

Delegate Stacey Plaskett, presenting evidence, argued that the former president had “deliberately encouraged” the violence and “put a target on the backs” of senior figures, including his own vice-president.

Impeachment managers used social media posts and clips of Mr Trump to illustrate how he spent weeks pushing a “big lie” that the election had been stolen from him, and with his reaction to the attack.

They forensically dissected footage of the speech the former president gave just hours before the attack, in which he told the crowd to “fight like hell”. The managers said Mr Trump used the rally to “inflame” supporters further before directing them to march to the Capitol.

Screenshots from pro-Trump websites were shown as evidence that radicals in his support base were emboldened by his rhetoric to pre-plan the attack and spoke openly about their ambitions for violence against lawmakers.

Those arguing the case repeatedly appealed to the emotions of senators, who act as jurors in the case, about their own experiences on the day. “You were just 58 steps away from where the mob was amassing,” Congressman Eric Swalwell told them.

“These attackers stood right where you are… They desecrated this place and literally the president sat delighted, doing nothing to help us,” Representative David Cicilline said, telling Republicans: “We have to make this right, and you can make it right.”

Impeachment managers also focused on Mr Trump’s failure to condemn and call-off his supporters as the violence unfolded. “President Trump left everyone in this Capitol for dead,” Representative Joaquin Castro said.

Despite the strong footage, several Republican senators said they had not changed their minds. “[Mr Trump] bears some responsibility for what happened that day, but… that doesn’t mean that impeachment is the right way to address it,” said Senator Marco Rubio.

BBC