A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 refused to grant an ex-parte motion filed by the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, seeking an interim order to stop his impeachment process by the State House of Assembly.

In the suit, the embattled Deputy Governor, sought an order of the Court to restrain the Edo State House of Assembly; its Speaker, the Clerk of the Assembly as third, fourth and fifth defendants from commencing any process by issuing a notice of allegation, holding proceedings, or setting up any panel of investigation for his removal pending the hearing of a motion on notice.

Shaibu also sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, privies and or their agents, from interfering with the res/subject matter of the originating summons filed in the suit either by way of taking any adverse actions about any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as the Deputy Governor pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the State Government; State Governor; House of Assembly; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the Assembly, the State Chief Judge, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General, Department of State Services were first to eight defendants.

Other reliefs sought by Shaibu included, “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st-8th defendants whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, officials, representatives and/or any other person or authority acting through them from preventing the plaintiff either by threat of removal from office or adverse actions capable of hindering the plaintiff from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities as the Deputy Governor of Edo State including, attending State Executive Council meetings/functions and other duties.

The Deputy Governor had also sought for an order of interim injunction directing the defendants to maintain status quo ante bellum prevailing before the issuance of the purported notice or petition to commence his removal from office pending the hearing and the final determination of the Motion on Notice.

In its ruling, the Court presided over by Justice James Omotosho, rejected the prayers of Philip Shaibu for an interim order and Wednesday for hearing in another motion ex-parte brought by the same Deputy Governor seeking a substituted service on the defendants due to his inability to serve them.