Court Dismisses Appeal To Set Aside Shaibu’s Return To Office

Court Dismisses Appeal To Set Aside Shaibu’s Return To Office....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed two separate motions filed by the Edo State Government and the State House of Assembly challenging the reinstatement of Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. The court also ordered the Edo State Government and the State Assembly to pay a total of ₦400,000 in costs…….CONTINUE READING 

The ruling followed the intention of the State Attorney-General, Marvin Omorogbe, and House of Assembly counsel, Sonia Egbunia, to withdraw their motions for a stay of execution. Egbunia informed the court that, although the case was scheduled for hearing due to the transmission of the appeal record to the Court of Appeal, she would withdraw the motion filed on July 19, a move that Omorogbe also supported regarding the motion he filed on July 18.

Shaibu’s counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, did not oppose their withdrawal but requested that the court impose costs of ₦50 million each against the Attorney-General and the State Assembly. He argued that the clarity of the court’s July 17 order warranted significant costs. He further stated that both the Assembly and the Attorney-General were aware that a stay of execution could not be granted for such an order, suggesting their motions aimed to obstruct justice and prevent Shaibu from reaping the benefits of his legal victory.

Egbunia and Omorogbe contested Egwuaba’s request for fines. In his ruling, Justice Omotosho stated that he could not grant a stay of execution since he had already ruled in favor of Shaibu’s reinstatement. He struck out the suit and awarded ₦200,000 in costs against each applicant.

It is important to note that Justice Omotosho previously voided Shaibu’s impeachment as Deputy Governor on July 17, determining that the State House of Assembly had not followed due process and that the grounds for impeachment were legally untenable.