The Edo State Government said on Friday that until otherwise decided by a superior court of appellate jurisdiction, the embattled deputy governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, who was reinstated by a Federal High Court in Abuja, remained impeached.
The state government hinged its argument on the notion that immediately after the judgement nullifying the impeachment of Shaibu was delivered, the government filed a notice of appeal and stay of execution on the judgement, stressing that the state government reserved the right to toe that path.
Those processes, the government added, it had communicated to all relevant authorities, maintaining that by filling the stay of execution on the judgement, it “means that the status quo is maintained by all parties.”
Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Chris Osa Nehikhare, who made the position of the government known at a press conference he addressed in his office on Friday, insisted that “Philip Shaibu remains impeached as the deputy governor of Edo State until the Appeal Court decides otherwise. More so, the enforcement of a court judgement is neither carried out by the parties involved nor their hirelings, but by law enforcement agents.”
According to Nehikhare, “Following the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, which faulted the impeachment of the former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, the Edo State Government immediately filed a notice of appeal and stay of execution on the judgement, as it is the government’s right. This we have since communicated to the relevant authorities, including the police, in accordance with the law.
“The filing of a stay of execution in response to a court order or judgement means that the status quo is maintained by all parties. Therefore, Philip Shaibu remains impeached as the deputy governor of Edo State until the Appeal Court decides otherwise. More so, the enforcement of a court judgement is neither carried out by the parties involved nor their hirelings, but by law enforcement agents.”
The commissioner regretted that “in a blatant disregard for the stay of execution as well as law and order, Philip Shaibu mobilised thugs armed with sophisticated weapons within and outside the airport compound in a bid to make a show of his return to Benin following the court judgement, unleashing mayhem on the people and stirring crisis in the state in the guise of executing the Federal High Court judgement.”
He added that upon receiving the intelligence on the processes filed by the state government, “the State Commissioner of Police, with the intelligence available to him, rushed to the airport, approached Shaibu, and informed him of the filed stay of execution which he had in his possession, warning the former deputy governor against marching to the Edo State Government House, which was Shaibu’s original plan.
“With the disappointment of this development, Shaibu disregarded the advice and warnings from the Commissioner of Police and exited the airport precincts into the waiting crowd of thugs who then moved with him into the city, shooting sporadically and unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens who were minding their lawful businesses.
“This mindless shooting and breakdown of law and order resulted in the wanton destruction of property, the infliction of various degrees of injuries on passersby and security operatives, and the loss of the life of a policeman.
“The incident is condemnable and unacceptable, and the Edo State Government condoles with the Nigerian Police Force and the family of the police officer who tragically lost his life in that incident. It’s quite disappointing but not surprising that the Commissioner of Police, despite his intervention, couldn’t rein in Philip Shaibu and his thugs, leading to this unnecessary loss of life.”
Nehikhare situated Thursday’s shooting as part of the grand plans by the APC “to cause as much destruction, mayhem, and chaos within the Benin metropolis with the aim of creating a sense of unrest and crisis so that they could cry and appeal to the Federal Government as victims, expecting them to, in response, begin the arrest of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, including myself, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation. Federal government, or federal might, is the only campaign strategy they boastfully articulate whenever they talk about the election. This episode is just one of the scenes in their How to Capture Edo script.”
“The Edo State Government is calling on the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to immediately begin investigations to unravel the root cause of this breach of law and order in the state as well as the death of the gallant police officer whose duty it was to protect the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and ensure that the culprits are prosecuted.
“The Edo State Government will not sit idly and watch just one person, or a group of persons, bring down the roof on the entire state on the back of his or her selfish motivations and in gross violation of the laws of the land.” He warned.
We urge the general public to rest assured that the government will spare no resource in ensuring the protection of the lives and property of the people of the state as is required by law.
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