Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has approached a court to seek protection from his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to avoid an imminent impeachment and removal from office.
In a motion of notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the appellant seeks an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or preventing the applicant from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Edo State, including attending State Executive Council meetings and other functions, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Shaibu submitted an affidavit to the Federal High Court, levelling serious accusations against Obaseki.
In the sworn document, Shaibu alleged that Governor Obaseki had deliberately obstructed him from fulfilling his official duties as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, thereby impeding the smooth functioning of the state’s administration.
Furthermore, in a shocking disclosure, Shaibu accused Governor Obaseki of utilizing the Police and State Security Service to engage in a campaign of harassment, intimidation and embarrassment directed at him.
He said that this misconduct by the state’s highest office holder was deeply concerning and raised serious questions about the governance and rule of law in Edo State.
Not stopping there, Shaibu made another startling claim, asserting that the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State were allegedly acting in concert with Governor Obaseki to orchestrate his impeachment.
Such a claim, if substantiated, could have profound implications for the political landscape in the state, potentially leading to a major constitutional crisis.
In light of these grave allegations, Shaibu urgently sought the court’s intervention to restrain Obaseki and any other individuals allegedly involved from taking any further actions against him.
To emphasize the sincerity and seriousness of his claims, the Deputy Governor made it clear that he was providing these statements in good faith and with a firm belief in their truthfulness.
By invoking the Oaths Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, Shaibu is seeking to underscore the solemnity and legal significance of his affidavit before the court.
