Again, Court  Affirms Shaibu Edo Deputy Governor, Dismisses Stay Of Execution

By Ayodele Oni

The move by Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the State House of Assembly to get the Court’s nod to seal the impeachment of Philip Shaibu as Deputy Governor has again suffered a setback.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, dismissed the application for stay of execution brought before it by the State Government and the State House of Assembly against the reinstatement of  Shaibu.

Dissatisfied with the application before it by the applicants, Justice James Omotosho said he could not grant the application as he had earlier given a judgement reinstating  Philip Shaibu.

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

Justice Omotosho had earlier, in July, 2024, reinstated Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, weeks after he was impeached by the State Assembly.

Justice Omotoso had declared the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.

The Court 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 restoring 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.

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.