The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has issued a temporary order stopping Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo from impeaching his deputy, Phillip Shuaib, over what he described as irreconcilable differences.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the temporary order while ruling on a motion on notice filed by Mr Shuaib, praying the court to stop Mr Obaseki’s plans to remove him from office.
In the motion, argued by Moses Ebute, SAN, Mr Mohammed directed the parties in the suit to maintain “status quo ante bellum”.
By the order, parties must remain in their positions before Mr Shuaib’s suit was instituted against Mr Obaseki.
The order for the status quo to be maintained was released on Friday in Abuja, and it is to be in force until the defendants show cause as directed in another court ruling on July 27.
Listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1027/2023 are the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), State Security Service (SSS) and Mr Obaseki.
Others are speaker of the Edo House of Assembly and the chief judge of Edo as first to fifth defendants.
Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter until August 10 and ordered that the IG, SSS and Mr Obaseki, who were not represented in court, be served with hearing notices.
Mr Shaibu, in his originating summons, prayed the court to determine whether, in view of the provisions of sections 186 and 193 of the 1999 Constitution, Mr Obaseki had the power to intimidate and prevent him from accessing his office.
He also asked the court to ascertain whether the governor had the powers to instigate the speaker and the chief judge to commence impeachment proceedings against him.
This, he said, was to remove him from office on any ground other than allegations of misconduct as contained in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
The deputy governor further asked the court to decide whether, given section 193 of the 1999 Constitution, Mr Obaseki could deliberately refuse to carry him along or inform him of the State Executive Council (SEC) Meeting.
At Friday’s proceedings, the speaker was represented by Okotie Eboh, while Francis Ogbe represented the chief judge.
They both opposed the granting of Mr Shuaib’s request.