Philip Shaibu has been reinstated as the Deputy Governor of Edo State by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This decision follows Shaibu’s impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly in April, which ended months of conflict between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki over Shaibu’s intentions to run for the Edo Governorship election.
In his judgment on Wednesday, Justice Omotosho declared the impeachment illegal and unconstitutional, stating it grossly violated the Constitution. He ordered that Shaibu’s salaries and allowances be paid retroactively from April, when he was removed from office. Additionally, the court directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restore Shaibu’s security details.
Edo Assembly Appeals Verdict
The Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the High Court’s judgment and filed a motion for a stay of execution pending the appeal. The impeachment occurred approximately three months ago when the lawmakers claimed Shaibu disclosed government secrets after an investigation by a seven-man panel set up by the Assembly. The panel recommended Shaibu’s impeachment based on these findings, and 18 out of 19 Assembly members voted in favor of his removal, with one abstention.
Following his impeachment, Shaibu criticized the lawmakers, asserting that his removal was a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. “This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democracy that we hold dear,” Shaibu stated. “It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). An ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The reinstatement by the court has added a new dimension to the ongoing political struggle in Edo State, with further developments expected as the Assembly’s appeal progresses.
