The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling pertaining to the impeachment proceedings against the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Phillip Shaibu.
Despite Shaibu’s request for an order of status quo to be maintained by the State House of Assembly and others involved in the impeachment saga, Justice James Kolawole Omotoso declined his request for the second time.
However, the Judge granted the request that the Edo State Governor and the State House of Assembly be served with the originating summons by substituted means. The Judge also directed that all court papers be served on parties in the matter with the use of a registered Courier Company and subsequently fixed April 15 for the hearing of the case.
The case has been marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, and it lists the Edo State Government, Edo State Governor, Edo State House of Assembly, Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, the Clerk of the Assembly, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Inspector General of Police IGP, and Director General of the Department of State Services DSS as the first to eighth defendants. Shaibu’s lawyer, Professor Olawoyin Awoyale, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had orally requested an order of status quo to be maintained by parties pending the hearing and determination of his motion on notice.
However, Justice Omotoso held that the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly, who are the main actors in the impeachment bid, have not been served with the originating summons of the suit as required by law.
Although it is still unclear how the case will proceed, the Judge’s ruling has set the stage for the Edo State Governor and the State House of Assembly to be served with the originating summons, and the hearing has been scheduled for next month.
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