The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, affirmed the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which reinstated the impeached deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
Reacting to the development, Shaibu described the decision of the Court of Appeal as a victory for democracy and judiciary.
The appellate court had dismissed the appeal filed before it by the Edo State House of Assembly over the judgement of the lower court, which nullified the impeachment of Shaibu.
Shaibu, who expressed gratitude to God, the people of Edo State and Nigerians, said: “I am grateful to God and to Edo people as well as Nigerians for their prayers. Everywhere I go, people tell me they are praying for me.
“So the prayers of Nigerians have been answered by the dismissal of appeal filed by the State House of Assembly and by the grace of God, I am going to win all the cases against me.
“I am the one that is being oppressed and intimidated by anti-democratic forces. This judgement is victory for democracy and judiciary because the judiciary has become the hope of the oppressed, the common man.
“By the Grace of God, that arm of government will continue to flourish. The victory is for Edo people. I am so excited.
“This is the main case because the Edo State House of Assembly purportedly impeached me. The appeal has been dismissed and I am happy about it.”
Shaibu’s new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State also expressed joy over the judgement, noting that the victory was a testament of what it called the insensitivity of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s absolute disregard to due process and the 1999 constitution (as amended).
A press statement by the APC state publicity secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, read, “The APC, Edo State chapter heartily congratulate the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu on his victory in respect of the baseless, unmeritorious appeal filed by the PDP led government and the toothless and ineffectual House of Assembly of Edo State over the resounding judgment of the Federal High Court.
“This victory is a testament of the insensitivity of Governor Godwin Obaseki to due process and absolute regard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he swore to uphold.
“The APC Edo state chapter is proud that today, the Deputy Governor of the state has found it worthy to trace his political fame back to the party which has helped to galvanized and repositioned him as an icon of modern democracy which he has doggedly and gallantly fought for in Nigeria.
“While you journey through the remaining part of your tenure as an APC Deputy Governor, the party offers it sincere accolade of support and encouragement to doing that which you are well known for, that is upholding the genuine tenent of democracy which is sacrosanct in civilized climes.
“Once again, the evils of your previous party, the PDP shall not affect your track record of profound political achievements which resonate within and outside Edo state,” he added.
Efforts to get a member of the State House of Assembly to comment on the judgement yielded no result but a top government official said the state government was looking at the judgement and will make a decision on the next action to take.
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