The Edo State House of Assembly started the impeachment process against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, and the Federal High Court in Abuja refused to stop it on Wednesday.
Shaibu’s attorney, Prof. Olawoyin Awoyale (SAN), asked the court to order the parties in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024 to maintain the status quo, but Justice James Omotosho denied his request.
The judge denied the prayer, stating that “the Originating Summons of the suit have not been served with the required diligence to the principal actors in the matter, the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly.”He then granted Shaibu’s request to use an alternate method to serve the court documents on Obaseki and the state House of Assembly.
Judge Omotoso mandated that the court procedure be posted at the gates of the state House of Assembly Complex in Benin as well as the Edo State Government House.
The Judge further ordered that a registered courier service be used to serve all court documents to the parties involved in the case.
Judge Omotoso postponed the remaining proceedings until April 15.On March 5, 2024, the Edo State House of Assembly began the impeachment process against Shaibu due to claims that he had leaked government secrets.
The Assembly wrote the state’s chief judge on Tuesday, requesting the creation of a seven-person panel to look into Shaibu’s accusers.Shaibu sued Justice Omotoso under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024 in an attempt to halt the impeachment process.He is pleading for an injunction to stop the defendants from moving forward with his impeachment.
But on Wednesday, the judge turned down Shaibu’s request for a temporary injunction to stop the impeachment process for the second time.Shaibu had earlier requested an interim order to halt the proceedings until the suit is final outcome, but the judge had denied his ex parte request in a ruling on March 13.”This judge holds that the motion ex parte for an interim injunction, dated and filed on March 8, 2024, is denied.
“Due to Shaibu’s incapacity to serve the defendants, he filed another motion ex parte, which he postponed until Wednesday for hearing.The latest move in the rift between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki, his principal, is reportedly the impeachment move.
Since Shaibu announced his intention to run for Edo governor this year, there had been an uneasiness in the relationship between the deputy governor and his principal.