22nd May, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso, has granted a request by the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu, to join the Speaker of the State House of Assembly in his suit challenging his impeachment.
The Judge also ordered the former Deputy Governor to join his successor, Godwins Omobayo, as a defendant in the suit.
Justice Omotoso while ruling on Wednesday in a motion on notice filed by Shaibu, dismissed objections raised by the Speaker and the Deputy Governor that the suit is frivolous and without merit.
He agreed with Shaibu’s Counsel, Ayotunde Ogunleye (SAN), that both the Speaker and the new Deputy Governor are both 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, hence, must be brought to court for order that would be made to legally bind on them.
He 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 defendantts in the case.
Meanwhile, hearing in the substantive suit has been fixed for June 3 based on the accelerated hearing ordered by the Judge.