Edo Assembly's Impeachment Move on Resigned Speaker Criticized

Legal practitioners have condemned the Edo State House of Assembly's decision to reinterpret the resignation of its former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, as an impeachment. This occurred after the Assembly altered the status of Agbebaku's departure on a Monday.

Paschal Ugbomeh, a former Chief Whip of the Assembly, questioned the legality of this action, emphasizing that a person who has resigned cannot be impeached from an office they no longer hold. Ugbomeh pointed out that the Assembly should focus on their responsibilities and adhere to the law.

Afebu Aigbonoga also criticized the move, stating that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the Assembly's established rules allow for converting a resignation into an impeachment, especially after a successor has taken office. He highlighted that resignation and impeachment are fundamentally different processes, with resignation being a voluntary act and impeachment a legislative procedure for removing an incumbent.

Aigbonoga warned that this alteration could lead to significant constitutional and legal issues.