Confusion Surrounds Court’s Ruling on Impeachment of Shaibu

Controversy erupted late Tuesday following conflicting reports regarding the Court of Appeal’s decision on the impeachment of Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

Initial reports claimed that the Court of Appeal had upheld the Federal High Court in Abuja’s ruling, which quashed Shaibu’s impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly. These reports suggested that the appellate court affirmed Justice James Omotosho’s decision, which nullified Shaibu’s impeachment on grounds of lack of fair hearing and ordered his reinstatement.

The court was also reported to have voided the appointment of Omobayo Godwins as the new Deputy Governor.

However, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, refuted these reports, labeling them as false and misleading.

Despite the refutation, Shaibu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) celebrated the alleged ruling. Shaibu expressed his gratitude to God, the people of Edo State, and Nigerians, hailing the judgment as a victory for democracy and the judiciary.

The APC also welcomed the judgment, criticizing Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration for its disregard of due process and the constitution. In a statement, the state publicity secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae-igbinigie, said, “This victory is a testament to the insensitivity of Governor Godwin Obaseki to due process and his disregard for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

However, Aiguobarueghian provided further context to Vanguard, stating that Shaibu had filed a suit during the impeachment process to stop it. While the case was ongoing before Justice Egwuatu, Shaibu was impeached, and the new deputy governor requested to strike out the case, expressing no interest in pursuing it.

Shaibu then filed a motion to change the case name to his own and sought to convert the case from an originating summons to a writ of summons, which the court granted. The Edo State House of Assembly subsequently challenged this order in an interlocutory appeal.

As Aiguobarueghian explained, “All three appeals came up today (Tuesday). We withdrew the interlocutory appeal against Justice Egwuatu’s ruling. It is that ruling he is now claiming as a victory, but that ruling did not declare him the deputy governor.”

The substantive appeal against Justice Omotosho’s ruling, which had declared Shaibu the winner in his later suit, is still pending. Both the Edo State House of Assembly and the Attorney General have filed appeals against this judgment, and the case is set to proceed after the responses are submitted in the coming days.