Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop alleged plots by his boss Governor Godwin Obaseki to have him impeached.
Obaseki and Shaibu fell out after the latter was seen together with Obaseki’s political adversary Adams Oshiomhole during the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
In court filings dated July 28, Shaibu’s lawyer Ogwu Onoja prayed the court to restrain Obaseki, the DSS, Inspector General of Police, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the State Chief Judge, who are defendants in the suit, from harassing him.
Onoja also urged the court to stop the defendants “from intimidating, embarrassing and preventing” Shaibu “from carrying out the functions of his office as deputy governor of Edo State, including attending the state executive council meeting.”
He further prayed in a motion ex parte for an interim injunction restraining the defendants from “initiating impeachment proceedings against” Shaibu.
In an affidavit of urgency, Shaibu accused Obaseki of “preventing” him from carrying out the duties of his office as deputy governor.
The deponent averred that the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Chief Judge of the State are colluding with Obaseki to remove him from office as deputy governor.
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“The 3rd defendant (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,” Shaibu said in the affidavit.
He prayed the court in an originating summons to determine whether Obaseki’s alleged action of using the DSS and police to prevent him from performing the duties of his office does not violate the Nigerian constitution.
He also asked the court to determine whether Obaseki has the “powers to instigate” the parliament and state chief judge to commence impeachment proceedings against him.
The suit has not been assigned to a judge for hearing.
