By Adedapo Adesanya
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has reinstated Mr Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
This comes three months after he was impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly as the second in command to Governor Godwin Obaseki, who he has a rift with.
In the Wednesday judgment, Justice Omotoso said the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly was illegal and unconstitutional, declaring that the removal was in gross violation of the Constitution.
Aside from restoring Mr Shaibu, the court also ordered that his salaries and allowances be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the south-south state.
Meanwhile, the Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the judgement of the High Court and has filed a motion for a stay of execution pending appeal.
Wednesday’s verdict came after the lawmakers in April impeached the embattled 54-year-old as the state’s deputy governor.
In a move that was seen as the culmination of the long-drawn battle between him and Governor Obaseki, the lawmakers, after investigations, said they found Mr Shaibu guilty of disclosure of government secrets.
The seven-man panel set up by the assembly therefore recommended his impeachment on that ground.
The assembly also upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-man panel and subsequently impeached him as the state’s deputy governor.
18 out of 19 members present at plenary voted for Mr Shaibu’s impeachment. Only one abstained from the headcount and voting process, ending the process.
Hours after Mr Shaibu’s impeachment, Governor Obaseki picked a 37-year-old Omobayo Godwins as his deputy to see out his tenure which ends in November.
The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, swore him into office around 1:40 pm on the same day.
Reacting to the development, Mr Shaibu faulted the lawmakers and claimed his impeachment was a threat to the country’s democracy.
“This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democracy that we hold dear,” he said.