*Pix above(l-r): Gov Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, struck out the two separate motions filed by the Edo Government and the House of Assembly challenging the reinstatement of Philip Shaibu as Deputy Governor of the state.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, also awarded the cost of N200, 000 each against the state government and the House of Assembly, bbringing to a total of N400, 000.
The development followed an application by lawyer to the state’s Attorney-General (AG), Marvin Omorogbe, and that of the House of Assembly, Sonia Egbunia, seeking to withdraw the motions for stay of execution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Omotosho had, on July 17, voided the impeachment of Shuaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State by the House of Assembly.
The judge, in the judgment, ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the House of Aassembly failed to comply with due process in the purported impeachment.
Justice Omotosho also held that the allegation on which the assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and did not constitute a gross misconduct.
The judgment was on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 with Shuaibu as the plaintiff.
The reinstated Deputy Governor had sued the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Deputy Governor of Edo, the AG, Chief Judge of Edo, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly and the Edo State House of Assembly as 1st to 6th defendants, respectively.
Omobayo was, on April 8, sworn in as the new Deputy Governor after Shaibu’s impeachment by the state’s house of assembly.///
Details later
