An interim ruling from the Federal High Court in Abuja has halted Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State’s attempt to remove his deputy, Comrade Phillip Shuaib, due to irreconcilable differences.
On Friday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed issued the order in response to a request on notice Shuaib had filed asking the court to halt efforts to have him impeached.
Justice Mohammed instructed the parties in the lawsuit to retain the “status quo ante bellum” after hearing from Shuaib’s attorney, Moses Ebute, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The State Security Service (SSS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and the state’s top judge are the defendants in the lawsuit.
Shaibu asked the court to decide in the initial summons whether Governor Obaseki has the authority to direct the IGP and SSS to harass, intimidate, or molested him in order to perform his constitutionally guaranteed duties in light of the provisions of sections 186 and 193 of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999.
In addition, he questioned the court’s authority to order the speaker and chief judge to start impeachment proceedings against him in order to remove him from office for any reason other than accusations of misconduct as specified in section 188 of the constitution.
The hearing date has been set by Justice Mohammed for August 10 while the respondents are being served with court documents.