By Nefishetu Yakubu
Benin, July 17,2024
Edo Government says it has appealed the judgment of a Federal High Court, which reinstated Mr. Phillip Shaibu as the deputy governor of the state.
In a statement on Wednesday in Benin, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said due to the appeal, Mr. Godwin Omobayo remained the deputy governor of the state.
Shaibu was impeached on April 8, 2024 by the Edo House of Assembly over allegations of disclosure of government secrets, an action Shaibu took to the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for redress.
However, Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the matter in a judgment delivered on July 17, ordered the reinstatement of Shaibu into office.
Omotosho anchored his judgement on the grounds that the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in the purported impeachment.
But the state government said Shaibu should wait for the outcome of the appeal against the July 17 judgment.
Nehikhare said that government had appealed against the judgement, adding that pending the outcome of the appeal, the incumbent Deputy Governor, Omobayo remained in office.
According to him, Omobayo will continue to serve in this capacity and will be recognised as such, pending the outcome of the appeal.
He called on the people of Edo to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.
Meanwhile, the National Vice Chairman, South South of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih and a PDP Chieftain, Aslem Ojezua, have congratulated Philip Shaibu following the judgment which reinstated him as the Deputy Governor of Edo.
Orbih, in a telephone interview on Wednesday, told NAN that: “I want to sincerely congratulate Phillip Shaibu over his landmark victory in the legal battle against his unlawful impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly.”
He said he was delighted by the judgment because he led the campaign that brought Shaibu and Gov. Godwin Obaseki to serve a second term in 2020.
Orbih appealed to all political actors in the state to let the judgment be the basis for a new and more fruitful relationship, especially within the PDP and citizens of the state.
On his part, Ojezua, a former governorship aspirant of the party, said with the judgment, common sense and the rule of law had prevailed.
“Today, I think that those who believed in the rule of law have prevailed. We can’t rule Edo state like a banana republic
“There are rules and they are meant to be obeyed. The house of assembly violated all the rules and came up with trumped up charges, ” he said.
He advised Governor Obaseki to begin a reconciliation process within the party and with the people.
