A court in Abuja declined to approve an urgent motion filed by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, requesting a temporary order to halt the process of removing him from office by the state House of Assembly.
In the motion labeled FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the first to eighth defendants were listed as the state government; the state governor; the state House of Assembly; the state House of Assembly Speaker; Clerk, the state Chief Judge; Inspector General of Police and Director General of the Department of State Services.
In the lawsuit, Shaibu asked the court to prevent the third to fifth defendants from starting any proceedings by issuing a notice of allegation, holding proceedings, or setting up any panel of investigation for his removal until a formal hearing takes place.
He also requested a temporary order to stop the defendants, whether by themselves or their agents, from interfering with the subject matter of the case by taking any adverse actions or attempts to remove him from office as the deputy governor until a formal hearing is conducted.
Other requests included an order to prevent the defendants from hindering Shaibu's performance of his duties as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, including attending State Executive Council meetings/functions and other responsibilities.
He also sought an order for the defendants to maintain the previous situation before the notice or petition to remove Shaibu from office was issued until a formal hearing and final decision.
However, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, declined the deputy governor’s requests in a ruling dated March 13.
The ruling stated, “That the motion expartee for interim injunction dated and filed 8th day of March 2024 is hereby refused.”
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the judge scheduled a hearing on another urgent motion brought by the plaintiff seeking alternate means of serving the defendants due to his inability to serve them.
