The deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, has sued his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki over alleged plans to remove him from office.
According to a court document, which was filed on July 28 and obtained by the News.ng, on Friday Mr Shuaibu informed the court about possible plans by Mr Obaseki to impeach him from office.
The court document which has gone viral across social media is tagged “AFFIDAVIT OF URGENCY”
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023 and filed before the Federal High Court of Abuja through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, the deputy governor said he filed the lawsuit in accordance with the Oaths Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Mr Shuaibu is the plaintiff and the Inspector General of Police is the first defendant; the State Security Service is the second defendant; and Mr Obaseki is the third defendant; the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the State Chief Judge, are fourth and fifth defendants in the lawsuit.
According to the suit, Mr Shuaibu told the court that Mr Obaseki is preventing him from carrying out his functions as deputy governor.
Additionally, he claimed that Mr Obaseki is using the Police and the DSS to harass, intimidate, and ridicule him in an effort to remove him from office.
He, therefore, asked the court to restrain the governor and ‘’all the other Defendants acting in concert with him.’’
Excerpt from court document
“Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, Adult, Male, Christian, Politician of Government House, Edo State doth make oath and state as follows:
“I am the deponent herein and by virtue of this I am familiar with the facts of this case. I have the consent of the 2 Claimant to depose to this affidavit.
“That I know that this case is all about the action of the 3’* Defendant in preventing me from carrying out the functions of my office as Deputy Governor of Edo State and using the 1 and 2 Defendants to harass, Intimidate and embarrass me with the 4′ and 5″ Defendants acting in tandem with the desire of the 3’* Defendant to impeach me.
“The 3′ Defendant has hatched plans to impeach me and the court needs to urgently intervene by restraining him and all the other Defendants acting in concert with him.
“That I depose to this affidavit in good faith believing same to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
Reactions
Many Nigerians have responded to the news on social media in various ways.
On X (formally known as Twitter) @Kingmel said “Betrayal runs in the Obaseki’s family.
@Dozzy_Dozzy22 said “This (these) two have been falling out since their 2nd term election campaign.
@Ifayin_ejim said “Politicians nawa? the same man(shiaib) that backed him against his godfather Adams oshiomole. Shuaib should quickly join LP if it is the turn of his senatorial district to produce Edo governor.
@TeeBadboi1 also on X said “This Obaseki gotta be the weirdest governor ever