The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, has announced a N50 billion defamation and contempt of court suit against the State Government, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, and Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on Media Projects.
Shaibu made this disclosure while addressing the press following his reinstatement by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Shaibu stated that the court’s judgement, which reinstated him, was declarative and must be fully respected and executed.
He pointed out that the judgement explicitly restrains the state government and its agents from hindering him from performing his duties as the deputy governor.
According to Shaibu, the court also affirmed that the position of deputy governor, as per the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was never vacant.
Shaibu criticized Nehikhare and Osagie for insisting that he remained impeached, accusing them of not thoroughly reading and understanding the court’s judgement before making public statements.
“The judgement reinstating me was declarative and has to be carried out before an appeal over the matter could be heard, while the stay of judgement execution filed by the state cannot see the light of the day until the judgement is executed,” Shaibu explained.
He further revealed that he has initiated a N50 billion lawsuit against the governor, Nehikhare, and Osagie for defamation, stating that they would be served the court papers in the following week.
Moreover, Shaibu alleged that a recent gun attack against him was an assassination attempt orchestrated by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki.
He refuted claims that he had staged the attack, which resulted in the death of Inspector Akor Onuh near Benin Airport, and accused the governor of plotting to assassinate him due to his political ambitions.
“I was taken aback by the attack. In the last one year, I have refused to call for a protest to avoid confrontation with the state government and their agents.
“I can tell you that Thursday’s attack was planned by the state governor to assassinate me. The governor vowed to destroy me when I remained resolute to vie for the position of governor,” Shaibu stated.
Shaibu reiterated his commitment to serving as the deputy governor and called for adherence to the court’s judgement.
