Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Wednesday reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, nullifying his impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly in April. The court ruled that the impeachment was illegal and unconstitutional, violating the provisions of the Constitution.
Shaibu was impeached by the state assembly on allegations of disclosing government secrets, but the court’s verdict has restored him to his former position, ordering the payment of his salaries and allowances from April and the restoration of his security details by the Inspector General of Police.
However, the Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the judgment and filed a motion for a stay of execution pending appeal. The assembly’s decision to impeach Shaibu was seen as a culmination of the long-standing feud between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki over Shaibu’s intention to contest the Edo Governorship election.
In a reaction to his impeachment, Shaibu had described it as an attack on democracy and a threat to the country’s democratic foundation.
