…alleges assassination attempt
…he’s an impostor, Edo govt reacts
Philip Shaibu has formally announced his resumption as the deputy governor of Edo state.
In July, James Omotosho, presiding judge of the federal high court in Abuja, nullified the removal of Shaibu as deputy governor.
The judge held that Shaibu’s impeachment violated the provisions of the law.
The court declared that Shaibu’s ouster on April 8, 2024 by the Edo state house of assembly was “politically motivated”.
The judge ordered Shaibu’s reinstatement and directed the inspector-general of police to restore his security detail.
After Shaibu was removed, Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, picked Omobayo Godwins as his deputy.
Reacting to Shaibu’s reinstatement, Godwins said he remains the “authentic” deputy governor of Edo state
In a video on X on Monday, Shaibu said his reinstatement is a “testament to the divine grace of God and the steadfast prayer of all Nigerians”.
Shaibu claimed an assassination attempt was made on his life when he returned to Benin, the state capital, after he was reinstated.
He said the bullet “killed” a police officer attached to Monday Okpebholo, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September election.
Shaibu added that he has not received any response from Obaseki on the reinstatement of his aides.
“My reinstatement as deputy governor of Edo state is testament to the divine grace of God and the steadfast prayer of all Nigerians,” Shaibu said.
“In recent weeks, the federal high court in Abuja reinstated me as the deputy governor of Edo, acknowledging the illegality of the impeachment.
“Upon my arrival in Benin, a tragic event occurred as an assassination attempt was made on my life.
“Thankfully, the bullet missed its mark, unfortunately, hit an armed policeman assigned to the APC governorship candidate for the upcoming September election.
“Following my return to office, I have formally requested the governor’s approval for the reinstatement of aides. However, I have yet to receive a response from him.”
Shaibu ordered workers attached to the office of the deputy governor to resume at their duty posts
He is an impostor – Edo Govt
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government says Philip Shaibu is impersonating the state’s deputy governor, urging the public to disregard him.
Edo State Government in a statement by its Commissioner for Communication and Orientation Osa Nehikhare said Shaibu’s action is a “clear case of impersonation”.
“It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that the former Deputy Governor, Comr. Philip Shaibu has been carrying out correspondence with different institutions and organisations both within and outside the State in a clear case of impersonation,” he said.
“In the interest of the safety of these organizations, we want to restate that Shaibu is not the Deputy Governor of Edo State, and every correspondence from him in that regard should be disregarded and considered a forgery.
The issue of his purported reinstatement is still active in court and the next hearing for the two separate motions filed by the State Government and the Edo House of Assembly challenging the purported reinstatement by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court is fixed for 24 September 2024.”
The commissioner said, “The State through the Attorney General of Edo State and the Edo House of Assembly by their lawyers, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, and Ken Mozia, SAN, respectively, had in the motions sought an order for a stay of the execution of the purported reinstatement and an order suspending the judgment and restraining Shaibu from parading himself or attending any official function as deputy governor pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
“Therefore, the status quo is that His Excellency, Omobayo Marvelous Godwins, remains the deputy governor of Edo State and any correspondence carried out by any other person, including Philip Shaibu is an act of impersonation, and anyone who deals with him does so at his or her own risk.
