By Abiola Olawale
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday has declared the impeachment of former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal and unconstitutional.
The Presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho also granted an order reinstating Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, held that the impeachment was a gross violation of the Constitution.
He also ruled that Shaibu be paid all his salaries and allowances from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the state.
The judge 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 New Diplomat reports that the Edo State Assembly impeached Shaibu on April 8, 2024, in a culmination of the months-long political drama with Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.
The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
The retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa-led panel had accused Shaibu of allegedly leaking the state government’s secrets in the affidavit he filed in support of his suit in Abuja.
The panel in its reports had accused Shaibu of violating the Oath of Secrecy he took and acted contrary to the provisions of Schedule 7 of the 1999 Constitution.
