Court Denies Request To Halt Impeachment Proceedings Against Philip Shaibu

Court Denies Request To Halt Impeachment Proceedings Against Philip Shaibu....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a recurring legal development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has once again declined to halt the ongoing impeachment process against Mr. Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

During the recent court session on Wednesday, Justice James Kolawole Omotoso dismissed Shaibu’s plea for an order maintaining the status quo regarding the impeachment proceedings initiated by the State House of Assembly. Represented by his legal counsel, Professor Olawoyin Awoyale, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Shaibu had orally requested such an order pending the resolution of his motion on notice.

However, Justice Omotoso ruled against Shaibu’s request, stating that the cited legal precedent was inapplicable due to the failure to serve the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly with the originating summons of the lawsuit, as required by law.

Nevertheless, the judge granted the request for alternative means of service, ordering that court documents be posted at the entrance gates of the Edo State Government House and the State House of Assembly Complex in Benin. Additionally, he mandated that all court papers be served on the involved parties via a registered courier company.

The court scheduled April 15 for the hearing of the case, allowing ample time for both parties to prepare their arguments.

Throughout the proceedings, Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor, remained present in the courtroom but declined to comment to the press.

In the motion filed with the court, various governmental bodies and officials were listed as defendants, including the Edo State Government, Governor, House of Assembly, House Speaker, Clerk of the Assembly, Chief Judge of Edo State, Inspector General of Police (IGP), and Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Shaibu’s suit seeks several orders from the court, including restraining the defendants from commencing any processes related to his removal, issuing interim injunctions to prevent interference with his official duties, and maintaining the status quo ante bellum pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

The legal battle surrounding Shaibu’s impeachment continues to unfold, with the court playing a pivotal role in determining its outcome.

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