***Obaseki swear-in new Deputy governor, Omobayo Godwins to replace Shaibu

At last the embattled Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu has been impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA)

The impeachment came after the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.

Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki have been at each other’s jugular over the forthcoming governorship election and the PDP ticketsl

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has sworn in 38 years old Omobayo Marvelous Godwins who hails from Akoko-Edo Local Government Council of the state as the new deputy governor to replace Comrade Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor.

The 7-man panel set up by Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State to investigate the impeachment allegations against the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu on Wednesday in a ruling by the Chairman has decided to discountenance an interlocutory order that debarred the Chairman and three other members from participating in the impeachment proceedings on account of bias.

The suit was filed on behalf of the Deputy Governor by his legal team at the Federal High Court Abuja, and was able to secure the order stopping the panel Chairman and members from proceeding with their inaugural sitting.

Counsel to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, advised the seven-man panel set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to obey the interlocutory order made by the Court.

The seven-man panel headed by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa was set up by the Chief Judge to investigate the allegations of misconduct levelled against him by the Edo State House of Assembly.

Counsel to Shaibu in the matter in court, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale SAN, said the decision of the panel to continue with its inaugural proceedings amounts to deliberate act of disobedience of a court order and an attempt to foist a fait accompli on the court.

He hinged his stance on the order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which gave an interlocutory order for proceedings of the panel to abate pending the return date when the Chairman and 3 other members of the panel will show cause.
The court had adjourned the matter to April 8, 2024 for the Respondents to obey the order to show cause.
The deputy governor’s counsel further submitted that with the ruling of the Federal High Court Abuja, all parties must abide by the interlocutory order of the court, adding that continuing with the panel would amount to undermining the rule of law.

However, counsel to the House of Assembly, who is the Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, Joe Oaifi Esq, argued that the panel’s sitting was supported by Section 188 (10) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, which forecloses any court from preventing the House of Assembly and the panel from discharging their constitutional responsibilities.

The seven-man panel is headed by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa, with six other members.

The panel’s Chairman had gone on a short adjournment to determine whether or not they will proceed in the light of the order of court preventing them from sitting.

In his ruling the Chairman agreed with the submission of the counsel for the House of Assembly and said the panel will proceed with its inaugural sitting.
Counsel to Shaibu had to excuse himself from the inaugural proceedings of the panel, in obedience of the order of court.

Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on Thursday the 28th of March 2024 ordered that all Parties in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/405/3024 to show cause why the injunction to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice Should not be granted.

The Honourable Judge consequently gave the Respondents, including the Chairman and three members members of the panel three days to respond to respond to the Order to show cause on the grant of the restraining order.

The case is between the Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, Hon. Justice S. A. Omonua (Rtd) , the chairman representing himself and the members of the panel of seven appointed the by 4th defendant, Edo State Chief Judge and the House of Assembly.

THE ORDER:

” UPON THE MOTION EX-PARTE dated 26th March ,2024 and filed 27th March, 2024 praying the following Orders:

AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER OF THIS
HONOURABLE COURT FOR THE
RESPONDENTS, their assigns, agents and however so-called to SHOW CAUSE on the “return day” why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant

” AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT DIRECTING all Parties in this suit to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice

Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge

ORDER EX PARTE IN THE DEPUTY GOV, OF EDO STATE v. I.G.P. & 7 ORS
FHC/ABJ/CS/405/2024. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.

“UPON READING the affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Elsie Esosa, Adult, Female, Christian, Nigerian citizen of suite BID, First Floor, KFC Building, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and filed in the Registry of this Court.

AND AFTER HEARING A. A. Emwanta, Esq., of Counsel for the Applicant move in terms of the Motion paper. And the Court having granted the application.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge

Order is hereby made for the Respondents, their Assigns, Agents and whosoever to show cause on the next date of hearing why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant.

“Applicant is hereby ordered to serve the Respondents with all processes in this suit within 4 days of this Order.

” Respondents are hereby ordered to show cause on the next date of hearing.

“Case adjourned to 8th April, 2024 for Respondents to show cause.

ISSUED AT ABUJA, under the hand of the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo, and seal of the Court this 28th day of March, 2024.”

Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on Thursday the 28th of March 2024 ordered that all Parties in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/405/3024 to show cause why the injunction to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice Should not be granted. The Honourable Judge consequently gave the Respondents, including the Chairman and three members members of the panel three days to respond to respond to th

The case is between the Edo state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, Hon. Justice S. A. Omonua (Rtd) , the chairman representing himself and the members of the panel of seven appointed the by 4th defendant, Edo state chief judge and the House of Assembly.

THE ORDER:

” UPON THE MOTION EX-PARTE dated 26th March ,2024 and filed 27th March, 2024 praying the following Orders:

AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER OF THIS
HONOURABLE COURT FOR THE
RESPONDENTS, their assigns, agents and however so-called to SHOW CAUSE on the “return day” why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant

” AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT DIRECTING all Parties in this suit to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice

Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge

ORDER EX PARTE IN THE DEPUTY GOV, OF EDO STATE v. I.G.P. & 7 ORS
FHC/ABJ/CS/405/2024. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.

“UPON READING the affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Elsie Esosa, Adult, Female, Christian, Nigerian citizen of suite BID, First Floor, KFC Building, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and filed in the Registry of this Court.

AND AFTER HEARING A. A. Emwanta, Esq., of Counsel for the Applicant move in terms of the Motion paper. And the Court having granted the application.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge

Order is hereby made for the Respondents, their Assigns, Agents and whosoever to show cause on the next date of hearing why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant.

“Applicant is hereby ordered to serve the Respondents with all processes in this suit within 4 days of this Order.

” Respondents are hereby ordered to show cause on the next date of hearing.

“Case adjourned to 8th April, 2024 for Respondents to show cause.

ISSUED AT ABUJA, under the hand of the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo, and seal of the Court this 28th day of March, 2024.”

***Sues Asue Ighodalo, INEC, PDP

By Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja

The crisis in the Edo state chapter of the People’s Democratic party ( PDP) may be getting Messier as the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu has dragged Dr. Asue Ighodalo, PDP, INEC before Federal High Court in Abuja over the party primary held on 22nd of February, 2024.

Comrade Philip Shaibu is seeking an order of the Court nullifying the 2nd Defendant’s purported Edo State Governorship primary election which took place at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin-City on 22nd February, 2024 where the 4th Defendant purportedly emerged as the Governorship Candidate of the 2nd Defendant.

The Deputy Governor through his Counsel, Doyin Awoyale SAN is also seeking an order of the Court directing the 2nd Defendant to withdraw forthwith the Certificate of Return issued to the 4th Defendant having emerged from an invalid and unlawful Governorship Primary Election conducted contrary to the provisions of the 2nd Defendant’s Constitution and the Electoral Act.

He therefore further seek an order of injunction restraining the 4th Defendant from parading himself as the duly nominated Governorship candidate of the 2nd Defendant in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election scheduled for the 21st of September 2024.

The originating summons reads : “AN Order of injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from accepting and/or recognizing the name of the 4th Defendant as the Governorship candidate of the 2nd Defendant in the 2024 Edo State Governorship election scheduled to be conducted by the 1st Defendant on the 21 of September 2024.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court restraining the Defendants by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs chapters, etc from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates lists that emerged from the 2^{nd} Defendant’s congresses of 4^{th} February 2024 and 10th February, 2024 conducted by the National Working Committee of the 2^{nd} Defendant.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court mandating the 2^{nd} Defendant to conduct a fresh Governorship Primary Election for the Nomination of the Governorship Candidate for the 2^{nd} Defendant in the 2024 Edo

In a suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024 , the deputy governor sought for the following reliefs : That A DECLARATION that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Sections 84 (1), (5B) & (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022; Article 15 (2) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Electoral Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election, it is only Ad Hoc Delegates that emerge from a Special Local Government Area Congress and Special Ward Congresses conducted by the 2^{nd} Defendant National Working Committee (NWC) that are eligible to vote in the Edo State PDP Governorship Primary Election held on the 22nd February, 2024.

“A DECLARATION that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Section 84(1), (5B), (8) and (13) of the Electoral Act 2022; Articles 15(2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election, the 2nd Defendant cannot alter, modify, amend, exclude or substitute the list of ad hoc delegates from a Special Local Government Area Congress and Special Ward Congresses conducted by the 2^{nd} Defendant National Working Committee (NWC)who emerged as delegates for the purpose of nominating the Edo State PDP Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election scheduled for the 21 of September 2024?

“A DECLARATION that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Section 84 (1), (2), (5B) & 13 of the Electoral Act, 2022; Articles 15 (2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2ND Defendant’s Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election, the purported Governorship Primary Election conducted by the 2^{nd} Defendant at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin-City on the 22^{nd} of February 2024, from where the 4th Defendant purportedly emerged as the Governorship Candidate of the 2ND Defendant, is null and void.

“A DECLARATION that the 1 Defendant is not entitled to accept or recognize the 4th Defendant as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the 2^{nd} Defendant in Edo State for the 21″ of September 2024 Governorship Election, having emerged from an invalid, unlawful and illegal primaries conducted contrary to Section 84(1), (5B), (8) and (13) of the Electoral Act 2022; Articles 15(2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2ND Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2ND Defendant’s Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election.”