Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu Files N50 Billion Lawsuit Against State Government and Officials

Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, has initiated a N50 billion lawsuit against the State Government, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation Chris Nehikhare, and Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media Projects. This legal action follows a recent Federal High Court decision in Abuja that reinstated Shaibu to his position.

Speaking to the press about his reinstatement, Shaibu emphasized that the court's ruling was declarative, mandating the state government and its representatives to allow him to perform his duties without obstruction. The judgment also affirmed that his position as deputy governor had never been vacated, contrary to claims made by some officials.

Shaibu criticized Nehikhare and Osagie for allegedly disregarding the court's judgment in their public statements, suggesting that their responses lacked a thorough understanding of the court’s decision.

“The judgment reinstating me is declarative and must be adhered to before any appeal can be considered,” Shaibu said. “The stay of execution filed by the state is unlikely to succeed until the judgment is properly executed. I am pursuing a N50 billion defamation suit against Governor Godwin Obaseki, Nehikhare, and Osagie, and they will be served next week.”

In addition to the lawsuit, Shaibu accused Governor Obaseki of orchestrating an assassination attempt against him. He refuted allegations that he was involved in the attack, which resulted in the death of Inspector Akor Onuh near Benin Airport.

“I was shocked by the attack. Over the past year, I have refrained from calling for protests to avoid conflict with the state government and its agents,” Shaibu stated. “I believe the attack was a planned assassination attempt by the governor, who had threatened to destroy me for my political ambitions. It is perplexing why armed thugs would ambush me if I was merely returning peacefully from Abuja.”

Shaibu's comments highlight ongoing tensions and legal battles between him and the state government, adding further complexity to the political landscape in Edo State.