TELL Magazine

Making good his threat to fight the perceived injustice done to him by his impeachment on Monday, the former deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to obtain a complaint form to file a formal petition against the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.

Shaibu was impeached by the State House of Assembly, following the adoption of the report of a seven-man panel set up by Justice Okungbowa. The impeachment panel had investigated allegations of gross misconduct and perjury levelled against erstwhile deputy governor by the House.

But Shaibu, in a letter from the chambers of B.I. Dakum and Co and dated April 8, 2024, applied to the CJN who doubles as Chairman of the National Judicial Council, for leave to obtain a complaint form to file formal petition against the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.

Signed by Barrister Adaze A. Emwanta, a former commissioner for Information and Orientation to Governor Godwin Obaseki, 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.”