The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the main matter in the alleged impeachment of the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, by Governor Godwin Obaseki, over their irreconcilable differences.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed made the order, following the inability of the State Security Service, SSS, to apply, showing why the main suit should not be entertained.
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The trial judge had, on August 4, issued a temporary order while ruling in a motion on notice, filed by Shaibu, asking the court to stop the move to ease him out of office by his principal.
When the matter commenced on Thursday, other defendants told the judge that they were ready, having filed their processes, but the counsel for SSS told the court that he had yet to file the application requested by the court, as they had not been brought into the matter in the first place.
The trial judge, however, admonished the counsel, stating that he should have at least filed the process first, and then mention his grievances in the said process, for the court to take note of.
Although the Inspector General of Police was not represented in court, Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter to August 22, urging the second defendant to file his process within 24 hours, while noting that the IGP is very aware of the matter in court.
The defendants in the suit are the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), State Security Service, (SSS), Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge, Edo State.
Shaibu, in his originating summons, is praying the Court to determine whether, given the provisions of Sections 186 and 193 of the 1999 Constitution, Governor Obaseki has the power to instigate the IGP and SSS to prevent him from accessing his office, to carry out his constitutionally guaranteed duties.
He is also asking the court to ascertain whether the governor has the power to instigate the Speaker and the Chief Judge to commence impeachment proceedings against him, to remove him from office on any other ground, other than allegations of misconduct, as contained in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
