The Court of Appeal Tuesday in Abuja affirmed the lower court judgment reinstating Philip Shaibu as the deputy governor of Edo state.
While delivering judgment in the appeal brought by the Edo state House of Assembly, the Appeal Court dismissed the appeal seeking to uphold the deputy governor’s impeachment.
When he S was impeached on April 8, 2024, the House Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, said while the report of the panel was unable to establish the case of perjury brought against Shaibu, the panel found him guilty of disclosure of government secrets following the adoption of the report of a seven-man committee set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate allegations of misconduct against him.
But Justice James Omotosho of a Abuja Federal High Court, on July 17, voided the impeachment and ordered his immediate reinstatement.
The judge stated that the allegation by the House of Assembly was untenable in law and constituted gross misconduct.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho ordered the Inspector-General of Police to provide him with needed security to enable him resume office and perform the functions of the office until the end of his tenure.
The court stated clearly that any individual, aside from Shaibu, parading himself as deputy governor would face legal consequences.
In the same judgement, the court set aside the appointment of Omobayo Godwin as the new deputy governor.