The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request to pause the impeachment process started by the Edo State House of Assembly against Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
Justice James Omotosho turned down an oral plea from Shaibu’s counsel, Prof Olawoyin Awoyale, (SAN), who requested the court to instruct the parties in the case with reference FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, to preserve the existing state.
The judge declined the prayer, citing that The Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly, the main parties involved, have not been served with the Originating Summons of the suit as mandated by law.
Subsequently, he approved Shaibu’s prayer to serve the court papers on Obaseki and the state House of Assembly through substituted means.
Justice Omotoso's order was to paste the court process at the entrance gate of the Edo State Government House and the gate of the state House of Assembly Complex in Benin.
The Judge's directive included serving all court papers to the parties involved in the case through a registered courier company, and further proceedings were adjourned until April 15.
On March 5, 2024, the Edo State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Shaibu for allegedly leaking government secrets.
Requesting the Chief Judge of the state on Tuesday, the Assembly wrote to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations against Shaibu and prevent the impeachment. Shaibu filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024 before Justice Omotoso.
Despite praying for an order to restrain the defendants from proceeding with his impeachment, the judge refused to grant Shaibu temporary relief for the second time on Wednesday to halt the impeachment move.
The judge had previously rejected Shaibu's ex parte application for an interim order to stop the proceedings until the final determination of the suit on March 13.
He adjourned the hearing till Wednesday for another motion ex parte brought by Shaibu, seeking substituted service on the defendants due to his inability to serve them.
