The attempts to halt the impeachment process against Edo State Deputy Governor, nMr. Philip Shaibu, for the second time, was declined by a Federal High Court in Abuja. Despite his plea for a status quo order, Justice James Kolawole Omotoso rejected the request during Wednesday’s proceedings. Shaibu, represented by his lawyer, Professor Olawoyin Awoyale, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had sought to maintain the status quo until his motion on notice could be heard and decided upon.
The senior lawyer, in his attempts to persuade the court, referenced an authority to support the application. In response, Justice Omotoso ruled that the cited authority wasn’t relevant to Shaibu’s case since the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly, pivotal figures in the impeachment process, hadn’t been served with the originating summons as mandated by law.
Nevertheless, the judge approved the request to serve the Edo State Governor and the State House of Assembly with the originating summons through alternative methods. Justice Omotoso specifically instructed that the court documents be affixed to the entrance gates of both the Edo State Government House and the State House of Assembly Complex in Benin.
Additionally, the judge mandated that all legal papers be served to the involved parties via a registered courier service. Furthermore, Justice Omotoso scheduled April 15 for the hearing of the case.
During Wednesday proceedings, Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor, remained in the courtroom but declined to comment to reporters. In motion FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, Shaibu, as the plaintiff, requested the court to restrain the third to fifth defendants from initiating any proceedings or investigation panels regarding his removal until a motion on notice is heard. Governor, House of Assembly, Speaker, Clerk of the Assembly, Chief Judge of Edo State, Inspector of the General of Police, and Director General of the Department of State Services.
Additionally, he requested a temporary injunction preventing the defendants or their representatives from interfering with the subject of the originating summons filed in the lawsuit, including any actions aimed at his removal from the position of Deputy Governor of Edo State, until the motion on notice is hard.
Other reliefs south are: “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st to 8th defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servant, officials, representatives, and or any other person or authority acting through them, from preventing the plaintiff either by threat of removal from office or adverse actions capable of hindering the plaintiff from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, including attending State Executive Council meetings, functions and other duties.
“An order of interim injunction directing the defendants herein jointly, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants officials, representatives, or any other person or authority acting through them, to maintain status quo ante bellum prevailing before the issuance of the purported notice or petition to commence removal of the Plaintiff from office pending the hearing and the final determination of the motion notice.