The Edo State government has approached Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting a stay on the enforcement of the ruling that reinstated Philip Shaibu as the state’s Deputy Governor.
This plea was submitted on Thursday, with officials arguing that Shaibu’s return could hinder the effective operation of the state administration.
Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), representing the state, filed the motion, insisting that reinstatement should be paused until the appeal against the court’s ruling is concluded.
The government claims that Shaibu’s re-entry into office is particularly contentious due to his recent endorsement of the opposing political group, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the application, the state proposed that should the appeal favor Shaibu’s reinstatement, financial compensation could be provided, asserting, “Monetary damages would serve as an appropriate remedy for Shaibu if it is ultimately determined that this application should not have been granted.”
The Edo State House of Assembly has also submitted a similar request through its attorney, Ken Mozia (SAN), seeking to suspend the execution of the judgment rendered on July 7 that reinstated Shaibu.
The hearing for both applications has been set by Justice Omotosho for September 24.
Shaibu was impeached on April 8, 2024, following the findings of a seven-member investigative panel convened by Edo State Chief Judge Daniel Okungbowa and led by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa. The impeachment stemmed from allegations of misconduct, perjury, and the unauthorized disclosure of government information.
Shaibu subsequently challenged the impeachment in court, leading to Justice Omotosho’s ruling on July 7, which overturned the impeachment, citing procedural failures and untenable charges.
Dissatisfied with this ruling, the applicants filed an appeal on July 18, raising significant and debatable issues, particularly regarding the court’s authority to hear the case.
In their motion, the applicants sought two key orders: to stay the execution of the judgment while the appeal is pending and to prevent the respondents from acting on the July 17 ruling during the appeal process.
Both the Edo State government and the House of Assembly argue that without the stay, their right to appeal would be compromised, emphasizing the necessity of stopping Shaibu from assuming his duties or participating in official events as deputy governor until the appeal is settled.
