Tag: Shaibu

• Omobayo remains in office, Obaseki insists

• ‘Governor’s reaction attempt to ridicule sound judgment’

A Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the impeachment of Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

Justice James Omotosho ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in purporting to impeach Shaibu.

Shaibu, upon hearing the judge’s pronouncements, shed tears.

Justice Omotosho, who agreed with the plaintiff’s legal team, including Reuben Egwuaba, 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.

He held that it was strange that the House of Assembly could impeach Shaibu for allegedly violating the Official Secret Act because he purportedly attached some documents relating to the state’s security structure to a fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed in court.

Justice Omotosho noted that the suit was for the enforcement of his rights guaranteed under Chapter four of the Constitution

He held that the provisions in Chapter four of the Constitution which relates to the fundamental rights of citizens supersede any provision in the Official Secret Act.

Justice Omotosho said: “The defendants have tried to justify the plaintiff’s impeachment on the grounds that he was found guilty of gross misconduct due to him attaching some security documents as exhibits in a suit he filed, which they claimed breached the Official Secrets Act.

Read Also: Shaibu’s reinstatement: Omobayo remains Edo dep gov, insists Obaseki

“Unfortunately for the defendants, they did not attach the said exhibits for the court to consider. The burden to justify an impeachment clearly lies on the House of Assembly.

“The defendants, particularly the sixth, have failed to show through cogent and verifiable evidence that the impeachment of the plaintiff is justified. The plaintiff, in the exercise of his right to present his case as he sees fit, had attached the said offending exhibits.

“The action of the plaintiff is in line with his constitutional right, which supersedes any provision in the Official Secrets Act.”

The judge held that the court’s position would have been different if Shaibu had exposed the said classified documents to the public or went on air with them, which is not the case here.

He added: “The plaintiff, in the eyes of this court and the law, remains the Deputy Governor of Edo State. The office was not vacant at any point in time to warrant the swearing in of any other person.

“Consequently, I hold that the impeachment of the plaintiff as wrongful and without any merit.

“In final analysis, the plaintiff’s claim that his impeachment was wrongful is successful and this Court upholds same.” Justice Omotosho, among others, ordered the IG to provide Shaibu with needed security to enable him resume office and perform the functions of the office until the end of his tenure.

He also set aside the appointment of another Deputy Governor, and held that Shaibu be paid all his salaries, allowances, fringe benefits, and all that he is entitled to as a Deputy Governor.

Edo Assembly appeals judgment

The House of Assembly has however appealed the judgment and filed a stay of execution pending hearing of the appeal.

The 24-member Assembly, on April 8, impeached Shaibu following adoption of a report the seven-member panel which probed the allegations of gross misconduct, perjury and leak of government’s secrets, levelled against Shaibu.

Governor Godwin Obaseki has said Godwin Omobayo remains the deputy governor.

Obaseki, through the the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said: “Following the court judgment that faulted the impeachment of the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, the Edo State government has filed a stay of execution of the judgment.

“Pending the hearing of the appeal of the judgment, incumbent Deputy Governor, Godwins Omobayo, remains and will continue to serve in this capacity, and will be recognised as such.”

Shaibu: it’s victory for democracy

The reinstated deputy governor, Shaibu, condemned Governor Obaseki’s reaction to the judgment, describing it as an affront on the judiciary, and a blatant attempt to ridicule sound judgment’.

Shaibu also described the ruling as ‘victory for democracy and the rule of law’.

A statement by his media aide, Ebomhiana Musa, reads: “It is a victory for democracy and the rule of law. The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. For mere mortals who think they can play God in the lives of others, this judgment serves as a lesson. God appoints kings as it pleases Him. Those who have ears, let them hear.

“The statement issued by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, is an affront on the judiciary, and a blatant attempt to ridicule the sound judgment. It smirks of arrogance of power on the part of the government by insisting that ‘nothing has changed, Omobayo remains the Deputy Governor.”

Orbih, Ojezua congratulate Shaibu

The National Vice Chairman (South South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, and a PDP Chieftain, Aslem Ojezua, have congratulated Shaibu.

Orbih, in a telephone interview, said: “I want to sincerely congratulate Philip Shaibu over his landmark victory in the legal battle against his unlawful impeachment.”

Orbih appealed to all political actors in the state to let the judgment be the basis for a new and more fruitful relationship, especially within the PDP and citizens of the state.

Ojezua said common sense and the rule of law has prevailed with the judgment.

“Today, I think those who believed in the rule of law have prevailed. We can’t rule Edo State like a banana republic. There are rules and they are meant to be obeyed. The House of Assembly violated all the rules and came up with trumped up charges,” he said.

Ojezua advised Governor Obaseki to begin a reconciliation process within the party and with the people.

…as trees fall at busy market, many injured

The downpour on Monday, July 8, at Jattu, the hometown of the impeached deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, in Etsako West local government area of Edo state, led to the death of four persons at the community’s busy market when four trees fell simultaneously.

Many people, who were also injured in the incident, were mostly receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Our reporter gathered that the fallen trees trapped the victims.

The chairman of Etsako West local government council, Marvellous Zibiri, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that during the downpour, four trees in the market fell simultaneously, thereby killing the people who took cover under them, and injuring others.

Read Also: Shaibu, Orbih, Okpebholo others hail judgment

Zibiri said: “So far, we have been able to recover four bodies and take them to the mortuary. The people who sustain injuries are at the hospital and are responding to treatment.

“Rescue operation is ongoing at the scene, as the trees are being sawn to confirm if there are other bodies under them. The incident is a tragedy. I sympathise with the families who lost their loved ones at the market.”

The chairman of the Etsako West local government council also urged residents of the LGA to always stay indoors during heavy rains, to be on the safe side.

Some chieftains of the PDP in Edo State celebrated the decision.

In a viral video yesterday, the chieftains, consisting mostly of leaders of the anti-Governor Godwin Obaseki Legacy Coalition, popped champagne.

They included impeached Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu; National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih; a former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anselm Ojezua, who defected with Obaseki to the PDP in 2020, and an ex-representative of Oredo constituency in the House of Representatives, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama. They danced and sang ‘ofone’ (it is finished).

While Shaibu jumped and pranced to the admiration of others, Orbih said he felt good, adding that ‘it would help to deepen the country’s democracy’.

He said there was a need for internal democracy in all political parties so the people can have faith in the process that would throw up the candidates. He admonished party leaders to always adhere to their guidelines and constitutions, so that people would accept the outcome of the elections.

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Monday Okpebholo also hailed the judgment.

A statement in Abuja by his campaign office described the PDP as ‘a lawless political party incapable of conducting its own internal affairs’.

According to him, the judgment is a clear indication that APC is the party to beat in the polls. He said the people will always come first.

Read Also: Don’t interfere in institutions’ management, Tinubu warns governing councils

Okpebholo also called on Ighodalo to ‘take the path of honour and withdraw from the race, having been misled by Governor Godwin Obaseki’.

He added: “The court has saved Edo people from another four years of pains and agony. The PDP is not a democratic party; it operates like a Mafia Organisation.

“Our administration is committed to bringing the good old days back. Since the exit of Senator Adams Oshiomhole as governor, our people have not had any reason to celebrate. That will change in September when the people will take power back through the ballot.

“Edo State has been cut off from the centre for far too long. We can see this from the level of abandonment. We need to return Edo State to the centre and enjoy all the benefits that we truly deserve. We are optimistic.”

Edo State Government yesterday gave the impeached Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, seven days to return 22 government vehicles allegedly still in his possession.

Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, an ally of Governor Godwin Obaseki, said this in a statement.

Nehikhare’s statement was titled: “Public Notice on Retrieval of 22 Official Government Vehicles.”

He said should Shaibu fail to obey the directive, security agencies had been put on the alert to retrieve the vehicles.

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Nehikhare said: “Edo State Government hereby issues this notice, directing the retrieval of official government vehicles allocated to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State, which are currently in the custody of the former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.

“The ex-deputy governor is by this notice given seven-day ultimatum, from the date of this publication, to return the vehicles, as relevant security agencies have been put on the alert to retrieve the vehicles, after the expiration of the notice.”

Shaibu and his Chief Press Secretary, Ebomhiana Musa, could not be reached at press time for reaction.

Shaibu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently donated his 2024 governorship campaign office in Benin, some vehicles and other items to the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 21 election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, whom he described as a ‘homeboy’, vowing not to support the Obaseki-backed Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer.

• • It’s obvious party is sinking, says ex-deputy governor
• •Zonal chair kicks

Edo State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, for alleged anti-party activities.

Former Edo Deputy Governor Comrade Phillip Shaibu and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama from Ward 2, Oredo Local Government, were equally expelled, also for alleged anti-party activities.

Comrade Shaibu last night said his alleged expulsion from the PDP by members of the State Working Committee (SWC), made it obvious that the party was sinking in Edo.

He said the action of members of SWC of PDP amounted to the antics of persons who were drunk or mad.

Edo Publicity Secretary of PDP, Ogie Vasco, yesterday said the SWC meeting was attended by nine members at the party’s state secretariat on Airport Road, Benin.

Vasco said: “The SWC extensively deliberated on the issue and resolved to expel with immediate effect, Chief Dan Orbih and Comrade Phillip Shaibu. SWC also upheld the expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama from Ward 2, Oredo Local Government of Edo State.”

Edo Chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, in a phone interview, also confirmed the expulsion of the three chieftains of the party, ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.

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Shaibu and Ogbeide-lhama, last week, donated their governorship campaign offices and other facilities in Benin, to the governorship candidate of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, while Orbih’s name appeared on the list of board members recently appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Orbih, who is one of the allies of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, reacting through the phone, said members of SWC of PDP in Edo had no power to expel him or any other member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

• We followed due processes to letter, says Agbebaku

Speaker of the 24-member Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday insisted that impeachment processes were followed to the letter in the removal of a former Deputy Governor of Edo, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

Agbebaku, who wore white attire, along with other lawmakers and officials of the assembly, spoke at a media parley, as part of activities to mark the first year in office of the 8th Edo House of Assembly.

Shaibu, a former member of the House of Representatives, ex-president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a former majority leader of Edo House of Assembly, was impeached by members of the House of Assembly on April 8, 2024, over allegations of perjury and disclosure of the state government’s secrets, which he is still challenging at the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja.

Agbebaku, however, said: “Shaibu’s impeachment was a good record for the 8th Edo State House of Assembly, because we are doing our legislative duties, showing that the 8th Assembly is very independent. The processes of impeachment were followed to the letter.

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“There were challenges, but they did not overwhelm us. There is no organisation or body without challenges. Every challenge we had was surmounted by our cooperation, comradeship, unity, friendship and understanding.”

Agbebaku also spoke about the May 6, 2024 indefinite suspension of three of the 24 lawmakers: Donald Okogbe (PDP, Akoko-Edo II), Bright Iyamu (PDP, Orhionmwon II) and Adeh Isibor (All Progressives Congress, APC, Esan Northeast I), over juju scare at the Assembly complex, and alleged plot to impeach the Speaker and other principal officers.

He said: “In every organisation or body, there are rules and regulations. For the three suspended lawmakers’ constituents to complain lack of representation, that is the price to pay for being disobedient, and going contrary to the House’s rules.

“A committee is being set up to look into their issues. So, in the next three weeks, members of the committee will submit their report. From there, we will know the next line of action to take.”