Court Refuses Shaibu’s Request to Temporarily Halt Impeachment Proceedings

•CRPP berates Edo lawmakers for continuing with attempts to remove deputy governor

Alex Enumah in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, has refused to grant an exparte application by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu seeking to stop alleged moves to impeach him from office.

 Omotosho rather ordered the applicant to put the respondents on notice.

Besides, the court on Tuesday fixed Wednesday March 20, for hearing in the deputy governor’s motion for substituted service of the main suit against the respondents.

Shuaibu had dragged the Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, the State Chief Judge and six others to court in his bid to stop his removal from office over alleged misconduct.

Pending the hearing in the main suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the deputy governor had through an exparte application prayed the court to stop any purported moves by the respondents to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

However, the court in a ruling delivered on March 13, declined to grant the application.

The enrolled order, sighted on Tuesday by our correspondent read, “That the Motion Exparte for Interim Injunction dated and filed March 8, 2024 is hereby refused.” This is contrary to reports by other news outlet that the court granted the order.

Shaibu, in the suit, is seeking an order of the court restricting the third to fifth defendants from commencing any impeachment process by issuing notice of allegation, holding proceedings or setting up of any panel of investigation for his removal pending the hearing of the main suit.

 He also sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves or their agents, from interfering with the res/subject matter of the Originating Summons filed in the suit either by way of taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

 One other relief sought include an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st-8th defendants  from preventing 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.

The 1st to 8th respondents are; Edo State Government; Edo State Governor; Edo State House of Assembly; Edo state House of Assembly Speaker; Clerk, Edo state House of Assembly; The Chief Judge of Edo State; Inspector General of Police and Director General of the Department of State Services.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) Edo State on Tuesday expressed surprise that in spite of series of interventions by well-meaning Nigerians to jettison the impeachment plan, they are still adamant.

This was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Samson Isibor Chairman CRPP Edo State and made available to journalists in Benin.

“Most disturbing is the rejection of the Federal High Court Summons delivered to the House of Assembly by the Federal High Court Bailiff who was harassed and chased out by the Assembly security men on the orders of the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly.

“It is quite appalling that the law makers that are supposed to honour a court summons should behave in such unbecoming manner by  harassing and chasing out a harmless Court Bailiff discharging his constitutional duty from one of the three arms of Government recognized by the   constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We describe this action of the state assembly as condemnable, especially when the assembly failed to realise that the case is not a personal issue,

“Those who live in glass house must not throw stones, If they believe in justice and fair play they should gladly honoured the court summons and present their allegations against the Deputy Governor in an open court instead of displaying rascality.

“A clear conscience fears no accusation as we in CRPP had earlier affirmed the innocence of the Deputy Governor of any accusation level against him, which we saw as witch hunting and political victimisation of the highest order,”  CRPP said.

The CRPP restated its position that nobody has the right to stop anybody from exercising his constitutional right to participate in any election and Obaseki has no power to stop his deputy to vote or be voted for.

“Almost eight years now, we have not experienced good governance in Edo State. Edo State lacks infrastructural developments throughout the state compared to other states in the federation,” the group declared.