1 month ago
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The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, yesterday resumed duty after the Federal High Court judgement, which nullified his impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Shaibu, in a video on his X account, also mandated his staff, who have yet to resume work since his reinstatement, to do so or face the consequences.
He also warned banks carrying out transactions with the Office of the Deputy Governor of Edo State without his consent to desist, describing such transactions as illegal.
Shaibu said his resumption was in adherence to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
He said the judgement of the Federal High Court, which reinstated him, indicated that his office has never been vacant.
However, shortly after the broadcast, the Edo State government said Shaibu was impersonating as deputy governor and should be disregarded.
“It has come to the attention of the Edo State government that the former Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has been carrying out correspondence with different institutions and organisations both within and outside the state in a clear case of impersonation,” a statement signed by the Commissioner of Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, stated.
The government said, “In the interest of the safety of these organisations, we want to restate that Shaibu is not the deputy governor of Edo State, and every correspondence from him in that regard should be disregarded and considered a forgery.”
Nehikhare added that the issue of Shaibu’s reinstatement is still active in court, and the next hearing for the two separate motions filed by the state government and the Edo House of Assembly challenging his reinstatement by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court is fixed for September 24.
He said the status quo is that Shaibu’s replacement, Omobayo Marvelous Godwins, remains the deputy governor of Edo State.
“Security agencies are, by this notice, alerted to the potential breach of peace and are urged to hold Philip Shaibu responsible for any security breach in the state arising from his ignoble actions,” the commissioner added.
Responding, Shaibu, through his media office, said the issue of his impeachment had since been laid to rest by the court with the declaration that “the Office of the Deputy Governor was never vacant, as the actions of the State House of Assembly and state government were illegal, null, and void.
“To be clear, the court judgment that reinstated Comrade Shaibu as deputy governor was declarative and must be abided by (obey before complaint). The judgment perpetually restrained the state government and its agents from preventing His Excellency from performing his duties as the only deputy governor of the state.
“As it stands, Marvellous Omobayo Godwins is the impersonator here and liable for contempt of the court order. Besides, the judgement had barred even the governor from interfering with his duties as deputy governor,” the statement said, advising the state government to wait for their request for a stay of execution to be heard by the court on September 24.
