Philip Shaibu, who is once again the Deputy Governor of Edo State, has started a legal action for N50 billion. He is suing the State Government, Commissioner for Communication Chris Nehikhare, and Crusoe Osagie, who is Special Adviser on Media Project.
Shaibu announced this news after a court in Abuja decided to reinstate him as Deputy Governor. He told reporters that the court’s decision must be followed because it is clear and final.
The court said that Shaibu should always be allowed to do his job as Deputy Governor. The court also said that according to Nigeria’s Constitution, the position of Deputy Governor was never empty.
Shaibu mentioned that Nehikhare and Osagie insisted he was still impeached. He thinks they say this because they didn’t read the court judgement well before talking to the public.
He explained that the court’s decision to reinstate him must be carried out even if there is an appeal. The state’s request to stop the judgement from happening cannot work until the decision is fully applied.
Shaibu has filed a lawsuit for defamation against the governor, Nehikhare, and Osagie. They are going to receive the legal papers next week.
Shaibu also said that a gun attack on him was an attempt to kill him, organized by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki. He denied the claim that he planned the attack, which took the life of Inspector Akor Onuh at the Benin Airport exit.
Shaibu said he was shocked by the attack. For the past year, he had avoided calling for protests to prevent conflict with the state government.
He believes the governor planned the attack to assassinate him because he wanted to become the next governor. Shaibu said that he arrived peacefully from Abuja and questioned why armed thugs were waiting for him. He asked if they were expecting someone else.