The Federal High Court’s Abuja Division overturned Philip Shaibu’s impeachment as deputy governor of Edo on Wednesday.
In a ruling, Justice James Omotosho ordered his return to the position, citing the Edo House of Assembly’s disregard for due process in the alleged impeachment.
According to Justice Omotosho, the parliament’s premise for the impeachment procedure was an unsupportable legal claim that did not amount to egregious wrongdoing.
As a result, the judge directed the inspector general of police to give him the protection he needs to return to work and carry out his official duties until the conclusion of his term.
Justice Omotosho also overturned Mr. Shaibu’s appointment to be replaced by a different deputy governor.
Mr. Shaibu, who was present in court, started crying after the judge’s remarks.
The parliament impeached Mr. Shaibu on April 8.
After the findings of the seven-member committee that Chief Judge Daniel Okungbowa of Edo County appointed to look into the deputy governor’s alleged misbehavior was adopted, Mr. Shaibu was impeached.
The majority leader of the parliament, Charity Aiguobarueghian, announced during plenary at the assembly complex in Benin that the seven-member judicial panel of inquiry’s report had two conclusions and one proposal.
According to Mr. Aiguobarueghian, the panel judged the deputy governor guilty of exposing official secrets, even though it was unable to prove the deputy governor’s case of perjury.
The seven-member judicial panel of inquiry recommended that the deputy governor be impeached for disclosing government secrets, according to the report.
Yahaya Omogbai, the house clerk, counted the number of lawmakers who voted in favor of and against Mr. Shaibu’s impeachment.
One member abstained from the headcount and voting process, while eighteen out of the nineteen members present voted in favor of the deputy governor’s impeachment in plenary.
According to the parliament clerk, the impeachment process required the support of two thirds (16 members of the House).
