Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to stop the impeachment move against the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, by the State House of Assembly.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, his request for an order of status quo to be maintained by the House of Assembly and others involved in the impeachment saga was turned down by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso.

Shaibu through his lawyer, Prof. Olawoyin Awoyale, SAN, had orally requested for an order of status quo to be maintained by parties pending the hearing and determination of his motion on notice.

The senior lawyer, while attempting to convince the court to issue the order, cited an authority to back up the application. In reaction, Justice Omotoso held that the cited authority was not applicable in Shaibu’s case because the Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly, who are the principal actors in the impeachment bid had not been served with the originating summons of the suit as required by law.

However, the judge granted the request that the Edo State Governor and the State House of Assembly be served with the originating summons by substituted means.

Specifically, Justice Omotoso ordered that the court process be passed at the entrance gate of the Edo State Government House and the gate of the State House of Assembly complex, both in Benin.

Besides, the judge also directed that all court papers be served on parties in the matter with the use of a registered courier company.Justice Omotoso subsequently fixed April 15 for the hearing of the case. Shaibu, who was present throughout yesterday’s proceedings, declined to speak with newsmen.

In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, Edo State Government, Edo State Governor, Edo State House of Assembly, Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, the Clerk of the Assembly, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Inspector General of Police IGP and Director General of the Department of State Services DSS were listed as the first to eighth defendants.

Shaibu, in the suit, sought an order of the court restricting the third to 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.

He also sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves or their agents, from interfering with the subject matter of the originating summons filed in the suit either by way of taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as the deputy governor of Edo State pending the hearing of the motion on notice, among other reliefs.

MEANWHILE, the state chapter of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), yesterday, urged the state Assembly, under the leadership of Blessing Agbebaku, to redirect its energy and scarce resources on matters that would benefit the people by tackling insecurity, particularly kidnapping, ravaging the state.

It said the government must work for the people instead of channelling time and energy towards impeaching the deputy governor. A statement by CRPP Chairman, Dr Samson Isibor, read: “We had earlier affirmed the innocence of the deputy governor of any accusation levelled against him, rather it was witch-hunting and political victimisation of the highest order by Governor Obaseki because his deputy dare come out to exercise his constitutional right to be voted for.”