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Tag: impeachment

  • No impeachment plot against Akpabio, disregard report

    No impeachment plot against Akpabio, disregard report

    The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has advised Nigerians to disregard stories of his planned impeachment describing it as a figment of the reporters imagination.

    Recall that an online publication, (Name withheld on Wednesday, published a story titled “DSS Takes Over National Assembly Amid Impeachment Speculations Against Senate President Akpabio”, which has been disseminated by other media outlets.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh in a statement on Wednesday said the report was a figment of the reporters imagination.

    He said “Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wishes to state without equivocation that the speculation and misinformation circulating about an alleged impeachment plot against him is the handiwork of fifth columnists who are perpetual merchants of misinformation and purveyors of mischief.

    “As a Head of one of the Arms of government, the President of the Senate categorically denies these baseless claims and reaffirms his commitment to transformational leadership of the Senate particularly and effectively collaborates with the other arms of government. There is no crack in the Upper Chamber and no Senator or Caucus is plotting any impeachment against the President of the Senate. Every Senator is focused on raising the bar of Legislative Agenda and Nation building.

    The allegations are nothing but a desperate attempt to create division and discord among the esteemed senators. It’s unfortunate that some individuals would resort to spreading falsehoods to promote the invidious reins of their blackmail enterprise.

    Senator Godswill Akpabio remains focused on the implementation of the 10th Senate’s Legislative Agenda and working tirelessly to address the pressing National issues of growth and prosperity.

    The Senate President will not be distracted by these unfounded rumours and wants to assure the public that his commitment to Nigeria’s progress remains unwavering.

    We therefore urge the public to disregard these baseless claims and instead focus on the meaningful work being done by the Senate to improve the lives of all Nigerians.

  • Kenya’s Vice President faces impeachment over corruption

    Kenya’s Vice President faces impeachment over corruption

    Kenya’s parliament was set to vote on Tuesday on impeaching Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in a political drama that has exposed a rift in the governing party.

    Lawmakers have accused the 59-year-old deputy to President William Ruto of corruption, undermining the government and practising ethnically divisive politics, among a host of other charges.

    At a press conference on Monday, Gachagua denied the accusations as “outrageous” and “sheer propaganda”, saying it was a scheme to hound him out of office.

    Gachagua is a businessman from Kenya’s biggest tribe, the Kikuyu. He weathered previous corruption scandals to become deputy leader as Ruto’s running mate in a closely fought election in August 2022.

    But in recent weeks, he has complained of being sidelined by his boss and been accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that broke out in June.

    Political tensions have been running high since the sometimes deadly demonstrations erupted over unpopular tax hikes, exposing divisions between Gachagua and Ruto.

    Several MPs allied with Gachagua were summoned by police last month, accused of funding the protests.

    No formal charges have been lodged by prosecutors and no judicial inquiry has been opened against Gachagua.

    But lawmakers have listed 11 grounds for impeachment, including accusations that he amassed assets worth 5.2 billion shillings ($40 million) since the last election, despite an annual salary of just $93,000.

    Among the listed assets was Kenya’s renowned Treetops Hotel, where Britain’s then-Princess Elizabeth was staying when she became queen.

    Gachagua says his wealth has come entirely through legitimate business deals and an inheritance from his late brother.

    He has warned his removal would stir discontent among his supporters.

    Kenyan lawmakers initiated the impeachment process on October 1, with 291 members of parliament backing the motion, well beyond the 117 minimum required.

    Two-thirds of the lower house, the National Assembly, must back the motion for it to pass on Tuesday. It would then move to the upper house, the Senate.

    If impeached, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be removed in this way since the possibility was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution.

  • Why Cross River Assembly Speaker was impeached

    Why Cross River Assembly Speaker was impeached

    The Cross River House of Assembly, on Wednesday, impeached the Speaker, Mr Elvert Anyambem, over issues of gross misconduct and high-handedness.

    The speaker’s impeachment was carried out during a sitting of the house in which he was presiding.

    The impeachment followed a motion moved by the member representing Calabar South 1, Mr Effiong Ekarika, which was seconded by Mr Charles Omang, representing Bekwara constituency.

    The motion was thereafter unanimously supported by other members of the house present at the sitting.

    Moving his motion, Ekarika stated that Anyambem had grossly indulged in administrative misconduct, high-handedness and financial misappropriation.

    Seventeen out of 25 members of the assembly signed the notice for the speaker’s impeachment.

    In the notice, Anyambem was said to have indulged in arbitrary expenditure, contrary to Section 9(1) of the state Legislative Funds Management Law, 2021

    The notice stated that he misappropriated the sum of N48 million meant for the payment of the assembly’s electricity bills.

    He was also accused of misappropriating N404.6m representing two per cent of the monthly revenue collected by the state Internal Revenue Service, and meant for oversight functions of the assembly.

    “The speaker misappropriated the sum of N19.4m being deductions from the local government councils which he willfully failed to disclose to members,” the notice read in parts.

    After the impeachment, the mace was taken away by the members.

    Attempts to speak to the impeached speaker proved abortive as he did not take calls or respond to text messages.

  • Rivers ALGON supports Fubara’s impeachment process

    Rivers ALGON supports Fubara’s impeachment process

    The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), River Chapter, says the call for the impeachment of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara is a step in the right direction.

    The Chairman, Mr Allwell Ihunda said at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that 21 local government chairmen in the state were in support of the call to impeach the governor

    Te Rivers Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently called on the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Fubara.

    Ihunda, also the Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, said that the call for Fubara’s impeachment was to safeguard democracy and the rule of law.

    The ALGON chairman alleged that the governor did not release statutory allocations to the local government councils in April.

    ”We did not receive allocations in April, this development is a show of executive rascality on the part of the governor,” he said

    He said that Fubara had refused to convene the Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting, which is the prerequisite for the release and disbursement of funds to the councils.

    ”The governor’s action is illegal. The state is at the verge of being plunged into totalitarianism,” he said.

    Ihunda further said that Fubara had directed Heads of Local Government Administrations in the councils to present salary vouchers to his office directly.

    ”He wants salary vouchers and overheads of civil servants, excluding chairmen, vice chairmen, councilors and political appointees sent to his office,” he said.

    ”This action is unconstitutional. It is in contravention of Sections 3(6), 7 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution,” he said

    “The chairman urged the state House of Assembly to take appropriate steps towards checking the excesses of the governor to safeguard democracy in the state.

  • BREAKING: Drama as Edo Assembly suspends 3 lawmakers over impeachment plot

    BREAKING: Drama as Edo Assembly suspends 3 lawmakers over impeachment plot

    The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday suspended three lawmakers over alleged plot to impeach the Speaker and other Principal Officers.

    The Speaker, Mr Blessing Agbebaku, announced the suspension at resumption of plenary in Benin.

    Agbebaku alleged that Donald Okogbe (PDP Akoko-Edo11), Bright Iyamu(PDP- Orihonmwon South) and Adeh Isibor (PDP- Esan North East 1) were being used by some external forces to cause chaos and remove the leadership of the House.

    The pronouncement led to rowdy situation at the House as the lawmakers tried to challenge their suspension.

    “Mr Speaker, you don’t have the right to unilaterally suspend any member of the house. You must call for votes. Allow members vote on the matter,” the Speaker was told.

    The Speaker, thereafter adjourned plenary abruptly.

  • Impeachment: Court fixes date to hear Shaibu’s suit against Edo assembly, others

    Impeachment: Court fixes date to hear Shaibu’s suit against Edo assembly, others

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 19 for hearing of a suit filed by the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, against the state house of assembly and others.

    The matter, which was before Justice Inyang Ekwo, was on Friday fixed for hearing after a team of lawyers, including Alex Ejesieme, SAN, showed up to seek a date for the case.

    The suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/405/24, was not listed on the cause list, the lawyers, who said they were for the defence, came to the court.

    Shortly before the judge rose, one of the lawyers told Justice Ekwo that the matter was scheduled to hold on Thursday but due to the public holiday, the court did not sit.

    “So in obedience to court, we came today,” he said.

    But Justice Ekwo, who held that he could not preside over a matter that was not in the file, directed them to liaise with the court registrar for the next adjourned date.

    The matter was consequently fixed for April 19 for hearing.

    NAN reports that in the suit dated March 26 but filed March 27, Shaibu sued the Inspector-General (IG) of Police; State Security Service (SSS) as 1st and 2nd respondents.

    He also joined Hon. Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd.), the Chairman representing himself and members of the Panel of Seven Appointed by the 4th Defendant; the Chief Judge of Edo; and Prof. Theresa Akpoghome as 3rd to 5th respondents.

    Shaibu, in the suit filed by O.A. Gbadamosi, SAN, also listed Mr President Aigbokhian; Mr Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu and the Edo State House of Assembly as 6th to 8th respondents respectively

    In the originating motion on notice, a declaration that the threat and failure of the 3rd to 8th respondents to give him a fair hearing in the impeachment proceedings commenced by the 8th respondent is illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing, pursuant to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    He sought a declaration that the failure of the 8th respondent (assembly) to serve the purported impeachment notice on him personally and on each member of the House of Assembly, in line with Section 188(2) of the 1999 Constitution is a violation of his right to fair hearing.

    He also sought a declaration that the inclusion of the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents as chairman and members of the seven-member Investigation panel to investigate allegations contained in a purported impeachment notice to the applicant is tainted by a reasonable likelihood of bias and will result in a violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to fair hearing, guaranteed by virtue of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”

    He sought an order directing the respondents not to take any further steps in violating his fundamental right to fair hearing, guaranteed by virtue of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He also sought an order directing the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents to recuse themselves from sitting as Chairman and members of the 7-Man Investigating Panel appointed by the 3rd respondent, on account of the likelihood of bias on their part against him, among other reliefs.

    Giving seven grounds of argument, Shaibu averred that before now, he had never been confronted with any of such notice or allegations of misconduct or abuse of office or any allegations at all, whether as deputy governor or acting governor.

    He said he had not been served with any letter/notice as required by Section 188(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended and no privilege had been accorded him by the assembly to provide answers to any purported allegations to warrant a process targeted at his removal from office as deputy governor.

    “The 3rd respondent via a letter dated 25th March, 2024 was appointed by the 4th respondent as the chairman of a panel of seven persons to investigate the allegations contained in a purported impeachment notice, which is yet to be personally served on the applicant.

    “The 3rd respondent is a retired judicial officer and community leader from Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo Central Senatorial District, where there is strong clamour against the gubernatorial ambition of the applicant.

    “The 3rd respondent appears to have been given the hatchet job of recommending the removal from office of the applicant, in order to weaken his political ambition of becoming governor of Edo State.

    “The 4th respondent being a protégé of the 3rd respondent, appointed him as chairman of the Investigating Panel, when other persons he offered the same appointment rejected it, because it was a politically motivated job,” he said, among other grounds.

    Shaibu was, on Monday, impeached by the state’s house of assembly after the seven-man panel found him guilty of perjury and leaking of the government’s secrets.

    The retired Justice Omonuwa-led panel, which had its inaugural sitting on April 3 in Benin, ended its sitting on April 5 with Shaibu or his counsel failing to show up.

  • Impeachment: Edo CJ reviews panel probing Shaibu

    Impeachment: Edo CJ reviews panel probing Shaibu

    The Chief Judge of Edo, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, has reviewed the panel constituted to investigate the allegations levelled against the state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.

    This is part of the processes initiated by the assembly to impeach the deputy governor.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Registrar of thestate High Court,Mr Benson Osawaru on Monday in Benin.

    In the new list, two members, Prof Violet Aigbokhaebo and Prof Boniface Edegbai, were dropped.

    The list was earlier released on Friday.

    Other members are Prof. Theresa Akpoghome, Mr Oghogho Oviasu,. Dr Andrew Oliha, Mr Idris Abdulkareen, Mr President Aigbokhian and Mariam Ilavbare.

    The new members are President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.

    According to the statement, retired Justice Steve Omonua is chairman of the panel.

    This, the CJ, said was in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

  • Edo Assembly asks chief judge to set up panel to investigate deputy gov, Shaibu

    Edo Assembly asks chief judge to set up panel to investigate deputy gov, Shaibu

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

    The resolution was passed during plenary in Benin.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr Blessing Agbebaku, during plenary, notified the house that the seven days ultimatum granted the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him had expired.

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

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

    In his motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghan, moved that the chief judge be directed to set up seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.

    The motion was seconded by Nicholas Asonsere, (PDP- Ikpoba Okha).

    Aiguobarueghan disclosed that the motion was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “That the notice served on the deputy governor alleging gross misconduct be sent for investigations.

    “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,”he said.

    During a vote, 19 out of the 24 member-house voted in support of the motion.

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

  • U.S. House Republicans vote for Biden impeachment inquiry

    U.S. House Republicans vote for Biden impeachment inquiry

    House Republicans on Wednesday voted to formalise an impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden, intensifying their investigation of unproven allegations that the president benefited from his son’s overseas business dealings.

    The vote is a formality, but it puts the House GOP on record in support of moving toward impeaching Biden.

    Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, egged on by former president Donald Trump and the most far-right members of his caucus, launched the inquiry without a vote in September.

    The probe has yet to produce evidence that proves the GOP’s longstanding, unproven claim that Biden benefited from his son Hunter’s overseas business dealings.

    The U.S. Constitution does not require the chamber to vote to launch an impeachment inquiry, legal experts told the Los Angeles Times.

    Still, Republicans have sought to portray formalising the probe as a way to aid investigators.

    “Short of declaring war, impeachment is the most serious act Congress can take,” Tom McClintock, of California, said in a floor speech ahead of the vote.

    “We owe it to the country to get to the bottom of these allegations.

    “And that requires the House to objectively invoke its full investigatory powers, respect the due process rights of all involved, and lay all of the facts before the American people.”

    The 221-212 vote fell along party lines.

    Ahead of the floor vote, Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, which is leading the inquiry, blasted the probe, calling it a partisan move that will waste taxpayer dollars to appease the far right.

    “After 11 months nobody can tell you what Joe Biden’s alleged crime is, where it happened, what the motive was or who the victims are,” the Maryland Democrat said at a news conference ahead of the floor vote.

    He said that Republicans had reviewed a “mountain of evidence but all the evidence shows that Joe Biden is not guilty of any presidential offenses.”

    House Republicans have been itching to impeach Biden since Trump left office in 2021.

    One day after the president’s inauguration, then-freshman Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, filed the first impeachment articles against Biden.

    She and other far-right lawmakers and GOP operatives have tried connecting the president with his son Hunter’s foreign business dealings.

    Though Hunter is under federal indictment for unrelated crimes, House investigators have not yet produced evidence to charge Biden with malfeasance.

    It is unclear when the House probe into Biden will end or whether it will produce charges the lower chamber will vote on.

    If the House votes to impeach Biden, the Democratic-controlled Senate will hold a trial, which requires a two-thirds majority to convict.

    The U.S. Senate has never removed an American president from office.

  • Impeachment: Court declines Akeredolu’s plea to vacate interim order, adjourns suit indefinitely

    Impeachment: Court declines Akeredolu’s plea to vacate interim order, adjourns suit indefinitely

    AFederal High Court, Abuja on Friday, refused to grant an application by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State asking it to vacate its Sept. 26 interim order for lack of jurisdiction.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, rather adjourned the suit indefinitely in view of the fact that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal in respect of the issue before him by the speaker and the state’s assembly.

    He also refused to grant Akeredolu and the speaker’s request to strike out or dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

    The judge held that it would be wise for the court to adjourn the matter “sine die” pending the outcome of the appeal in order to avoid judicial rascality.

    The speaker and the assembly had, on Oct. 20, appealed against the interim order made by Justice Nwite on Sept. 26.

    In their appeal filed at the Appeal Court, Abuja, they sought two reliefs.

    These include, “an order setting aside the ex-parte order of the lower court made on Sept. 26.

    “An order allowing the appeal and directing that the substantive matter be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.”

    The judge had, on Sept. 26, restrained the state’s assembly from impeaching Aiyedatiwa over alleged gross misconduct.

    Nwite gave the interim order in a ruling shortly after Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Kayode Adewusi, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.

    He also restrained Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding same to the lawmakers for approval as the new state’s deputy governor based on a letter of resignation purportedly authored or signed by Aiyedatiwa, pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory application.

    The embattled Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had, in an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the I-G and DSS as 1st and 2nd defendants.

    Others joined in the suit include Akeredolu, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State and the House of Assembly as 1st to 6th respondents respectively.

    In the application dated and filed by Mr Adelanke Akinrata on Sept. 21, Aiyedatiwa sought for four reliefs.

    But Akeredolu, through his counsel, Kassim Gbadamosi, SAN, had, on Oct. 4, sought an order setting aside the entire proceedings conducted in the case on Sept 26, including the interim order of injunction made by the court, same having been irregularly obtained for lack of jurisdiction.

    The governor also sought an order striking out or dismissing the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

    Besides, the speaker of the assembly, in his application filed by his lawyer, Femi Emodamori, on Oct. 27, equally sought an order that the suit was incompetent and that the court lacked both substantive or procedural jurisdiction to entertain same.

    But Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, on Oct. 30, prayed the court to dismiss Akeredolu and the speaker’s applications, insisting that they lacked locus (legal right) to canvass such arguments.

    Adegboruwa argued that since the speaker and the assembly (4th and 6th defendants) filed the appeal, he prayed the court to adjourn the case sine die (indefinitely) to await the decision of the Court of Appeal.

    He urged the judge to allow parties to go to the appellate court in order not to waste the time of the court on arguments on whether it had jurisdiction or not and to avoid contesting with the superior court.

    Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Nwite agreed with Adegboruwa’s submission that the court cannot wrestle jurisdiction with the Appeal Court, including on the pending ruling that was supposed to be delivered on the arguments preferred by the parties on Oct. 16.

    “From the foregoing reliefs, there is no gainsaying that the reliefs being sought in that appeal affect the jurisdiction of the court and are also the same reliefs being sought by the 3rd and 4th defendants in their applications.

    “Indeed, to indulge in such action will amount to judicial rascality.

    “In view of the foregoing analysis, I am of the humble view and I so hold that the application of the plaintiff (Aiyedatiwa) is well founded and meritorious.

    “Consequently, the matter is hereby adjourned sine die,” the judge declared.