The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, filed a motion in a federal High Court in Abuja to stop the impeachment process by the state’s House of Assembly.
However, the court did not grant the request, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
The motion listed various government officials as defendants.
Shaibu sought to prevent the House of Assembly from starting any proceedings against him until a formal hearing took place.
He also requested an injunction to prevent any interference with the legal process related to his potential removal from office.
Other reliefs sought are: “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st to 8th defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, officials, representatives, and or any other person or authority acting through them, from preventing the plaintiff either by threat of removal from office or adverse actions capable of hindering the plaintiff from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, including attending State Executive Council meetings, functions and other duties.
“An order of interim injunction directing the defendants herein jointly, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, officials, representatives, or any other person or authority acting through them, to maintain status quo ante bellum prevailing before the issuance of the purported notice or petition to commence removal of the Plaintiff from office pending the hearing and the final determination of the motion on notice. ”
In a ruling dated March 13, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, rejected the deputy governor’s requests.
The ruling stated: “That the motion ex-parte for interim injunction dated and filed 8th day of March 2024 is hereby refused.”
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the judge scheduled a hearing for Wednesday for another motion brought by the plaintiff seeking substituted service on the defendants because he was unable to serve them.
