…He is an impostor says government
There was unease in some quarters in government circles on Monday when the court reinstated the deputy governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu in a broadcast said he has resumed office in line with the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja which faulted the processes of his impeachment and returned him to office.
In a broadcast that lasted minutes and two seconds, Shaibu said he had informed Governor Godwin Obaseki of his resumption and that his aides should be restored but that he had not got any response and cautioned banks dealing with the office of the deputy governor.
But a statement by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare has described Shiabu as an impostor and should be ignored by the public.
There was more security presence after the broadcast as the road leading to the office of the deputy governor along Osadebey Avenue was blocked from its entrance to Vincent Agenmome Road and the intersection by the Police Cottage Hospital. Two gun-mounted unmarked black Hilux vans were positioned at both ends while three Sienna vans with armed security men were along the road.
At the entrance to Government House from Reservation Road, a van with armed men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was stationed while the passage to the government house was reduced to one lane apparently for proper scrutiny of any vehicle going in and out of government house with three addition security vehicles mounted in addition to the usual security vehicles on the area.
Shaibu said “Today I am issuing a clear directive to all staff in the deputy governor’s office who have not yet reported for work to resume forthwith, failure to comply will result in appropriate sanctions. In line with the judgment, the office of the deputy governor was never vacant, in this regard, all transactions that would have been done in my absence, remain illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
“I want to make it known that any bank conducting business with the office of the deputy governor of Edo state without my explicit approval does so at its own risk.”
But the statement by Nehikhare put security agencies on alert of a potential breach of peace and “are urged to hold Philip Shaibu responsible for any security breach in the State arising from his ignoble actions.”
Part of the statement read: “It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that the former Deputy Governor, Comr. Philip Shaibu has been carrying out correspondence with different institutions and organisations both within and outside the State in a clear case of impersonation.
“In the interest of the safety of these organizations, we want to restate that Shaibu is not the Deputy Governor of Edo State and every correspondence from him in that regard should be disregarded and considered a forgery.
“The issue of his purported reinstatement is still active in court and the next hearing for the two separate motions filed by the State Government and the Edo House of Assembly challenging the purported reinstatement by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court is fixed for 24 September 2024.
“The State through the Attorney General of Edo State and the Edo House of Assembly by their lawyers, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, and Ken Mozia, SAN, respectively, had in the motions sought an order for a stay of the execution of the purported reinstatement and an order suspending the judgment and restraining Shaibu from parading himself or attending any official function as deputy governor pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
“Therefore, the status quo is that His Excellency, Omobayo Marvelous Godwins, remains the deputy governor of Edo State and any correspondence carried out by any other person, including Philip Shaibu is an act of impersonation, and anyone who deals with him does so at his or her own risk.”
VANGUARD
