By Rauf Oyewole
Justice Omotosho, while delivering judgment in the suit, ordered that Shaibu be reinstated to office because the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in impeaching him.
Justice Omotosho also set aside the appointment of the new Deputy Governor who replaced Shaibu.
The court held that the allegation on which the House of Assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and did not constitute gross misconduct.
He ordered the Inspector General of Police to provide him with needed security to enable him to resume office and perform the functions of the office until the end of his tenure.
The Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), on Wednesday, appealed the judgement by Hon. Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which set aside the impeachment of the state’s former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.
The State Assembly has also filed a stay of execution on the judgment pending appeal.
The Edo State House of Assembly had, on Monday, April 8, 2024, impeached Shaibu following the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the State Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against the former deputy governor.
The investigative panel set up the EDHA was headed by Justice S.A. Omonua (retd.) and probed Shaibu on allegations of perjury and leaking of government secrets, ending its sittings with the former deputy governor refusing to appear before it.
Shaibu was impeached by the vote of 18 out of 19 members of the Assembly present at plenary, while one abstained from the headcount and voting process.
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