A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday reinstated the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Phillip Shuaibu citing that his impeachment process lacked due process.
Recalled that in April 2024, the Edo State house of Assembly impeached Mr. Philip Shuainu as the deputy Governor of the state.
But in a swift reaction to the impeachment, Shaibu said it was an attack on 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
“It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. An ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Three Months later, Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment today ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in purporting to impeach Shuaibu.
Justice Omotosho held that the allegation on which the House of Assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and does not constitute a gross misconduct.
The judge ordered the IGP to provide him with needed security to enable him resume office and perform the functions of the office until the end of his tenure.
Justice Omotosho set aside the appointment of another deputy governor in the place of Shuaibu.
