Court Halts Gov Obaseki’s Impeachment Bid Against Deputy, Philip Shuaibu

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a temporary order stopping the move by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to impeach his Deputy, Phillip Shuaib over their irreconcilable differences.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed issued the temporary order on Friday while ruling in a motion on notice filed by Shuaib, praying the court to stop the move to ease him out of office by his principal.

In the ruling on the motion argued by Moses Ebute SAN from the Chambers of Ogwu James Onoja SAN in Abuja, Justice Mohammed directed the parties in the suit to maintain “Status Quo Ante Bellum”.

The order for the status quo ante bellum released on Friday, is to be in force till the time the defendants shall show cause as directed in another ruling of the Court made on July 27th, 2023.

By the order of ‘status quo ante bellum’, parties are to remain in the positions they were before Shuaib’s suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1027/2023 was instituted against the defendants.

The defendants are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), State Security Service (SSS), Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge, Edo State as 1st to 5th respectfully.

At Friday’s proceedings, the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly was represented by his counsel, Okotie Eboh while the Chief Judge was represented by Francis Ogbe both who opposed granting of Shuaib’s request but lost in the Court’s ruling.

Justice Mohammed after the ruling shifted the hearing in the matter till August 10 and ordered that the IGP, SSS and Obaseki who were not represented in court be served with hearing notices.

Shaibu, in his originating summons, prayed the Court to determine whether, in view of the provisions of sections 186 and 193 of the 1999 Constitution, Governor Obaseki has the power to instigate the IGP and SSS to harass, intimidate, molest and prevent him from accessing his office to carry out his constitutionally guaranteed duties.

He also asked the court to ascertain whether the Governor has the power to instigate the Speaker and the Chief Judge to commence impeachment proceedings against him with a view to remove him from office on any other ground other than allegations of misconduct as contained in section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Deputy Governor further prayed the Court to decide whether, in view of the provisions of section 193 of the 1999 Constitution, Obaseki can deliberately refuse to carry him along or inform him of the State Executive Council (SEC) Meeting or any other meetings or functions within and outside Edo without violating the express provision of the law.

Upon positive resolutions of the issues in his favour, Shuaib asked the court to declare that the IGP, SSS and Obaseki lacked the power to intimidate, harass, embarrass or molest him.

He also sought the Court’s declaration that Obaseki, the Speaker and the Chief Judge lacked powers to impeach him on any grounds other than gross misconduct and that the Speaker and the Chief Judge at the same time, lacked requisite power to set up a 7-man panel of Inquiry on the same ground.

Among others, Shuaib requested for order of injunction restraining IGP, SSS and Obaseki and their agents and privies from harassing, embarrassing, intimidating and preventing them from stopping him to carry out his legitimate functions.

He further prayed for an order of injunction restraining Obaseki, the Speaker and the Chief Judge from taking any action, plan or step on the impeachment plan and another order specifically stopping the Chief Judge from taking instructions from Obaseki and the Speaker to set up any panel of Inquiry for the purpose of impeaching him.

Meanwhile, the suit has been adjourned till August 10.