Court Stops Oshiomhole’s Arrest, Trial By Edo Govt, Obaseki

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Plans by the Edo State Government and Governor Godwin Obaseki to arrest and prosecute the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over indictment in a white paper submitted to the state government have been truncated by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Accordingly, the Court has granted an interim injunction restraining both Edo State Government and Governor Obaseki from acting on the contentious white paper at its disposal.

In a ruling on Monday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, said the restraining order should subsist, pending the determination of whether or not his court has jurisdiction to hear the suit filed by Comrade Oshiomhole.

The APC’s National Chairman’s counsel, West Idahosa, had prayed the court, through an ex-parte motion for an order restraining the respondents.

Also listed as respondents in the case are Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Department of State Service (DSS) and Justice J. Oyomire.

However, counsel to the Edo Government, Alex Ejeiseme (SAN), in a motion of preliminary objection, challenged the court’s jurisdiction and sought to stop the ex-parte order from being granted.

He also argued that his clients have not been served the applicant’s processes, adding that he only responded based on an online version that they had printed for record purposes.

After listening to arguments and submissions by lawyers to the parties, Justice Mohammed ordered the respondents to stay action, as it relates to the subject of the case, pending the determination of whether or not the court has jurisdiction.

‘’An interim order is hereby made restraining the prosecution of the applicant pursuant to the report submitted to the 1st to 3rd respondents or any white paper, pending the determination of the issue of jurisdiction raised in the 1st to 4th respondents notice preliminary objection’’, Justice Mohammed ruled.

He therefore directed Comrade Oshiomhole’s lawyer to serve court documents on the case on all the respondents within 48 hours.

Justice Mohammed thereafter adjourned further hearing till Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

Amid the strained relationship between Governor Obaseki and his erstwhile political godfather, Comrade Oshiomhole, a panel of inquiry set up by the Edo State Government, had in a white paper, indicted Oshiomhole for acts of corruption.

In the white paper, the panel, headed by Justice Oyomire, recommended the arrest and prosecution of Comrade Oshiomhole, a decision the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President is now challenging with his suit at the Federal High Court.

The Edo state governor, seeking a return to Government House, Benin for a second term, is currently fighting the toughest political battle of his life against Comrade Oshiomhole and both sides are so far deploying every arsenal at their disposal to emerge victorious in the political contestation.