Obaseki Allegedly Defies Court Order, Plots His Deputy’s Impeachment For Monday

Indications have emerged that the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, is allegedly plotting an impeachment of his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

Naija News earlier reported that Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja had issued a temporary order stopping the move by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to impeach his Deputy, Phillip Shaibu, over their irreconcilable differences.

Justice Mohammed issued the temporary order on Friday while ruling in a motion on notice filed by Shaibu, praying the court to stop the move to ease him out of office by his principal.

In the ruling, Justice Mohammed directed the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo and to be in force till the time the defendants shall show cause as required in another ruling of the court made on July 27th, 2023.

Justice Mohammed adjourned the hearing until August 10 and ordered that the IGP, SSS, and Obaseki, who were not represented in court, be served with hearing notices.

Shaibu, in his originating summons, prayed the court to determine whether, given the provisions of sections 186 and 193 of the 1999 Constitution, Obaseki has the power to instigate the IGP and SSS to harass and prevent him from accessing his office to carry out his constitutionally guaranteed duties.

He also asked the court to ascertain whether the governor has the power to instigate the Speaker and the Chief Judge to commence impeachment proceedings against him to remove him from office on any ground other than allegations of misconduct as contained in section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

According to SaharaReporter, insider information revealed that disregarding the temporary order, an impeachment ambush had been set for Monday, August 7, against Shaibu by the state lawmakers loyal to the governor.

Naija News understands that the alleged move by the governor comes against the backdrop that the hearing adjourned till August 10 by the court may not favour his purported intention; therefore, his alleged plan to hatch Shaibu’s impeachment process before the hearing date.

Shaibu had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking protection from possible impeachment and removal from office by his principal, Governor Obaseki, and the state House of Assembly.

In a motion of notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on July 28, 2023, and made available to journalists on Thursday, the appellant seeks an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing, or preventing the applicant from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of the state.

This includes attending State Executive Council meetings and other functions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

In the suit, the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service (also known as Department of State Services), Governor of Edo State, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, and Chief Judge of Edo State are listed as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants respectively.

This platform recounts that the situation between Governor Obaseki and his deputy, according to sources, deteriorated after Shaibu was seen in a viral video with Senator Adams Oshiomhole during the inauguration of the National Assembly in Abuja.

A source further alleged that a few days after the Abuja viral video, the Governor summoned all Edo State House of Assembly PDP members to his mansion, excluding his deputy, which was highly unusual.

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