A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 19 for the hearing of a lawsuit filed by Philip Shaibu, the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, against the state house of assembly and others.
The matter, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was set for hearing after a legal team, including Alex Ejesieme, SAN, appeared seeking a date for the case.
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Although the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/405/24, was not initially listed on the cause list, the defense lawyers attended the court session.
Before adjourning the case, one of the lawyers informed Justice Ekwo that the hearing was supposed to take place on Thursday but was postponed due to a public holiday.
Justice Ekwo, however, clarified that he couldn’t proceed with a matter that wasn’t in the file and directed the lawyers to coordinate with the court registrar for the next hearing date.
The lawsuit, dated March 26 but filed on March 27, sees Shaibu suing the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and State Security Service (SSS) as the 1st and 2nd respondents respectively. Additionally, he joined Hon. Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd.), the Chairman representing himself and members of the Panel of Seven Appointed by the 4th Defendant, the Chief Judge of Edo, and Prof. Theresa Akpoghome as the 3rd to 5th respondents.
Shaibu, represented by O.A. Gbadamosi, SAN, also listed Mr. President Aigbokhian, Mr. Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, and the Edo State House of Assembly as the 6th to 8th respondents respectively.
In the originating motion on notice, Shaibu seeks several declarations, including that the impeachment proceedings against him violated his fundamental right to fair hearing and that the failure of the assembly to serve the impeachment notice on him personally is a violation of his rights.
He also seeks an order directing the respondents not to take further steps in violating his rights and to recuse themselves from sitting as Chairman and members of the 7-Man Investigating Panel, citing bias.
Shaibu’s argument is based on the fact that he had not been confronted with any allegations prior to the impeachment, and he hadn’t been given the opportunity to respond to the accusations.
Shaibu was impeached by the state’s house of assembly on Monday after the seven-man panel found him guilty of perjury and leaking government secrets. The panel, led by retired Justice Omonuwa, concluded its sitting on April 5, with Shaibu or his counsel failing to attend.
