The deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, has filed a suit to stop alleged plots by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, to remove him from office.
He filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on the 28 July.
Shuaibu’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, prayed the court to restrain Mr Obaseki, the State Security Service, the Inspector General of Police, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the State Chief Judge, who are defendants in the suit from preventing harassing him.
Mr Onoja also urged the court to stop the defendants “from intimidating, embarrassing and preventing” Mr Shuaibu “from carrying out the functions of his office as deputy governor of Edo State, including attending the state executive council meeting.”
In a motion ex parte, he further prayed to the court for an interim injunction restraining the defendants from “initiating impeachment proceedings against” Mr Shuaibu.
In an affidavit of urgency, Mr Shuaibu accused Mr Obaseki of “preventing” him from carrying out the duties of his office as deputy governor.
He said the governor was using the SSS and police to “harass, intimidate and embarrass” him.
The deponent averred that the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Chief Judge of the State are acting in cahoots with Mr Obaseki to remove him from office as deputy governor.
“The 3rd defendant (Mr Obaseki) has hatched plans to impeach me, and the court needs to urgently intervene in restraining him and all the other defendants acting in concert with him,” Mr Shuaibu urged the court in the affidavit.
