The Federal High Court in Abuja has reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State months after he was impeached by the state assembly.
The Judge, Justice James Omotosho while delivering the judgement on Wednesday, said the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly was illegal and unconstitutional.
According to the judge, the impeachment was in gross violation of the Constitution and ordered that his salaries and allowances should be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the state.
Meanwhile, the Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the judgement of the High Court and has filed a motion for a stay of execution pending appeal.
Wednesday’s verdict came about three months after the lawmakers impeached the embattled 54-year-old as the state’s deputy governor.
In a move that was seen as the culmination of the long-drawn battle between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki, the lawmakers after investigations said they found Shaibu guilty of disclosure of government secrets.
The seven-man panel set up by the Edo State Assembly therefore recommended his impeachment on that ground.
Subsequently, he was impeached as the state’s deputy governor.
