The court of appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the judgment of a federal high court, which reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Edo state deputy governor.
The appeal court in a ruling, dismissed the appeal filed by the Edo State House of Assembly, seeking to uphold Shaibu’s impeachment as the deputy governor of the state.
The impeachment was done after the house adopted the report of a seven-member investigative panel.
Chief judge of Edo, Daniel Okungbowa, set up the panel headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.
Shaibu was accused of “misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets.”
The deputy governor challenged his impeachment at the federal high court, Abuja and in a judgment delivered on July 17, James Omotosho, trial judge, held that Shaibu’s impeachment violated the provisions of the law.
Omotosho ruled that Shaibu’s ouster on April 8 by the state house of assembly was politically motivated.
Consequently, the judge ordered his reinstatement.
He also ordered the inspector-general of police (IGP) to immediately restore the plaintiff’s security.
