Edo: Court Refuses To Stop Impeachment Move Against Shaibu

The Federal High Court of Abuja’s Justice James Omotoso has once again declined to halt the State House of Assembly’s purported impeachment of Mr. Phillip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State.

The court denied Shaibu’s appeal during Wednesday’s sessions for the House of Assembly and all parties engaged in the impeachment drama to maintain the status quo.

The deputy governor had verbally asked for an order of status quo to be preserved by the parties until the hearing and resolution of his application on notice through his attorney, Professor Olawoyin Awoyale.

The lawyer, while attempting to convince the court to issue the order, cited an authority to back up the application.

In reaction, Justice Omotoso held that the cited authority was not applicable in Shaibu’s case because the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly who are the principal actors in the impeachment bid have not been served with the originating summons of the suit as required by law.

Read Also: Edo: Go And Face Your Impeachment Process, Court Tells Shaibu

However, the judge granted the request that the Edo State Governor and the State House of Assembly be served with the originating summons by substituted means.

Specifically, Justice Omotoso ordered that the court process be pasted at the entrance gate of the Edo State Government House and the gate of the State House of Assembly Complex both in Benin.

The judge also directed that all court papers be served on parties in the matter with the use of a registered Courier Company.

Justice Omotoso subsequently fixed April 15 for the hearing of the case.

The Deputy Governor, who was in the room throughout the proceedings declined to speak to journalists.