Stay of Execution: Philip Shaibu Floors Obaseki, Others Again

***As Court fines Obaseki, Speaker, Others 200k each

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division has dismissed the application of stay of execution brought before it by the Edo State government and the state House of Assembly against the reinstatement of Comrade Philip Shaibu.

Dissatisfied with the application before it by the Appellants, Justice James Omotosho said he can not grant the application as he has earlier gave a judgement reinstating Comrade Philip Shaibu and he therefore dismissed the application with a fine of 200 thousand naira against the Appellants.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has earlier in July, 2024 reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, months after he was impeached by the state assembly.

Justice Omotoso declared the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.

The court held that the said impeachment was in gross violation of the provisions of both sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The judge held that the impeachment was in gross violation of the Constitution.

Aside from restoring Shaibu, the court also ordered that his salaries and allowances be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the state.

The court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from stopping Shaibu from performing the functions of his office.

Justice Omotosho also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restore his security details which the IGP had complied with.