Court insists Shaibu is Edo Deputy Governor, rejects Obaseki’s petition

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday reaffirmed the reinstatement of Philip Shaibu as the Edo State Deputy Governor.

The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, dismissed the application of stay of execution brought before it by the Obaseki-led Edo State government and the state House of Assembly against the reinstatement of Shaibu.

Dissatisfied with the application before him by the appellants, Justice Omotosho said he could not grant the application as he earlier gave a judgement reinstating Shaibu.

He, therefore, dismissed the application with a fine of N200,000 each against the appellants.

Justice Omotosho had in July, 2024 reinstated Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, months after he was impeached by the state assembly.

The court declared the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.

It held that the said impeachment was in gross violation of the provisions of both sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The judge held that the impeachment was in gross violation of the Constitution.

Aside from reinstating Shaibu, the court also ordered that his salaries and allowances should be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the state.

The court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from stopping Shaibu from performing the functions of his office.

Justice Omotosho also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restore his security details which the IGP had complied with.