Hon. Philip Shaibu, Edo State deputy gov.
A Federal High Court judgment, which reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Edo State deputy governor, was on Tuesday affirmed by the Court of Appeals sitting in Abuja.
In its ruling, the court dismissed the appeal filed by the Edo State House of Assembly, seeking to uphold Shaibu’s impeachment as the State’s deputy governor.
The impeachment was undertaken after the House adopted the report of a seven-member investigative panel.
Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, set up the panel headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.
Shaibu was accused of “misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets”.
He had fallen out with Godwin Obaseki, Governor of the State, before the impeachment.
The Deputy Governor had challenged his impeachment at the Federal High Court Abuja.
In the judgment delivered on July 17, James Omotosho, trial judge, held that Shaibu’s impeachment violated the provisions of the law.
Omotosho declared that Shaibu’s ouster on April 8 by the State House of Assembly was politically motivated.
The Judge consequently, ordered his reinstatement, further ordering the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to immediately restore the plaintiff’s security.
Omotosho also ordered that Shaibu’s salaries and allowances; from April when he was impeached, should be paid to him.
