The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. This is even as the appellant court dismissed the appeal filed by the Edo House of Assembly which sought to uphold Shaibu’s impeachment.
With the ruling, the Court of Appeal has affirmed the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja. The High Court had earlier dismissed the Edo State Assembly’s impeachment of Shaibu as Deputy Governor.
Recall that Edo State House of Assembly removed Shaibu from office on April 8, 2024, after accusing him of disclosing government’s secret.
Shaibu, however, denied the allegation and stated that it was “hatched” because of his governorship ambition.
The embattled Deputy Governor, however, vowed to challenge his removal from office at the law court.
In a swift action, the State lawmakers, immediately removing Shaibu, confirmed Governor Godwin Obaseki’s nominee, Omabayo Godwins as Sahibu’s replacement.
However, on July 17, a High Court overturned Shaibu’s removal and reinstated him as Deputy Governor.
In delivering the judgment, the judge, James Omotosho, ordered the payment of Shaibu’s entitlements since April, when he was removed from office. The court also ordered the Inspector General of Police to restore his security as Deputy Governor.
Following the ruling of the High Court, Shaibu, on Monday announced his resumption of office as Deputy Governor.
That was even with the subsisting petition of the Edo State House of Assembly against the embattled Shaibu at the Appeal Court.
Shaibu’s claim to have resumed office, however, caused altercations from the Edo State Government, which accused him of impersonation. The State Government claimed that Shaibu was impersonating Godwins, that was sworn in by Governor Obaseki.
However, responding to the allegation, Shaibu described the impersonation claim by the State Government as an “affront on the judiciary.” He maintained that the allegation was a clear violation of the trial court judgment.
Shaibu, therefore, described Godwins as an “appointee of Governor Godwin Obaseki.” He noted that Godwins was not voted for by the people of the Edo State in any election.
source: Premium Times
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