Dennis Erezi
Justice James Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted permission to the impeached deputy governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu to join the Speaker of Edo State in his suit challenging his impeachment before the court.
The Judge also granted order to the former Deputy Governor to join the new Deputy Governor as a defendant in the suit.
Delivering a ruling on Wednesday in a motion on notice filed by Shuaib, the Judge agreed with his counsel, Ayotunde Ogunleye SAN that both the Speaker and the new Deputy Governor are necessary parties in the suit.
The Judge held that under section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, the name of the Speaker features prominently in the impeachment process and, hence, must be brought to court for an order that would be made to legally bind them.
Justice Omotoso dismissed the objections raised against the motion on notice by the Speaker and the Deputy Governor for being frivolous and without merit.
The Judge subsequently invoked Order 17 Rule 1 of the Federal High Court and ordered that the Speaker and the Deputy Governor be joined in the suit.
The Court also granted permission to the former Deputy Governor to amend his originating summons in the suit to reflect the name of the Speaker and the Deputy Governor as 9th and 10th defendants in the case.
Meanwhile, hearing in the substantive suit has been fixed for June 3 based on the accelerated hearing ordered by the Judge.
