A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the impeachment of Philip Shaibu as Deputy Governor of Edo State by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Philip Shaibu was impeached in April by the Edo Assembly following months of face-off with his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, but the federal high court has now ruled that the move was illegal.
Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court in his ruling ordered the reinstatement of Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State and said that the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly was illegal and unconstitutional.
Justice Omotosho held that the impeachment was carried out in gross violation of the Constitution. He also ordered that his salaries and allowances should be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the State till date.
Meanwhile, the Edo State House of Assembly has filed a stay of execution and notice of appeal at Appeal Court to challenge the ruling of the federal high court.