Court dismisses Edo Assembly’s appeal, upholds Philip Shaibu’s reinstatement as deputy governor

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the judgment of a federal high court, which reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Edo state deputy governor.

In its ruling on Tuesday, 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, set up the panel headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.

Shaibu was accused of “misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets”.

Shaibu 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.

Consequently, the judge ordered his reinstatement.

He also ordered the inspector-general of police (IGP) to immediately restore the plaintiff’s security.

Omotosho further ordered that Shaibu’s salaries and allowances—from April when he was impeached—should be paid to him.