On Wednesday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court annulled the impeachment of Philip Shaibu as Edo’s deputy governor.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that Shaibu should be reinstated because the Edo House of Assembly did not follow due process in the impeachment proceedings.
Justice Omotosho found that the allegations used as the basis for impeachment did not amount to gross misconduct and were legally untenable.
The judge ordered the Inspector General of Police to provide Shaibu with the necessary security to resume his office and fulfill his duties until the end of his tenure.
Additionally, Justice Omotosho nullified the appointment of a new deputy governor to replace Shaibu.
Shaibu, present in court, broke down in tears upon hearing the judge’s ruling.
Shaibu was impeached on April 8 after the Edo State House of Assembly adopted a report from a seven-member committee, appointed by Chief Judge Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate allegations of misconduct against him.
During a plenary session at the assembly complex in Benin, Majority Leader Charity Aiguobarueghian reported that the committee’s findings could not establish a case of perjury against Shaibu but did find him guilty of disclosing government secrets.
The committee recommended Shaibu’s impeachment based on this disclosure.
A head count conducted by the House Clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, revealed that 18 out of 19 members present voted for Shaibu’s impeachment, with one abstaining. The clerk confirmed that the required two-thirds majority (16 members) was met for the impeachment to proceed.