Edo, Shaibu’s camp bicker over alleged plot to invade govt house

The Edo State Government on Sunday alleged that reinstated Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu had perfected plans to invade the State Government House on Monday to enforce his reinstatement.

The state government noted that a stay of execution appeal had been filed, challenging the earlier ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a statement released on Sunday, Special Adviser to the Edo State Government, Crusoe Osagie, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, and all well-meaning Nigerians to dissuade Shaibu from his “devious plot,” warning that it could lead to chaos, especially as a police officer was killed during a previous attempt.

He said, “We want to draw the attention of the Inspector-General of Police to the intelligence we have gathered regarding a planned move by the erstwhile Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, to forcefully enter the Edo State Government House to purportedly enforce the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho.

“The stay of execution is still pending at the Court of Appeal, and we appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the state does not descend into anarchy because of the ambition of one man. The last time Shaibu attempted this, it led to the death of a police officer. We believe that one death is already too many, and it would be wise to prevent a recurrence.”

Osagie added that government legal counsel had written to the IGP and other stakeholders, stressing that “all actions relating to the enforcement and/or execution of the judgement of Honourable Justice J. K. Omotosho in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 should be stayed pending the hearing and determination of the Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction Pending Appeal, so as not to create a situation of helplessness for the Court of Appeal or render the order nugatory in the event that the application is granted.”

However, Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, in a statement on Sunday, denied the government’s allegations, insisting that the government should accept the fact that the 2024 governorship election had been concluded.

He said, “There is no iota of truth in it, please. They should know that the election has been lost and won. This is cheap blackmail and propaganda.”

Responding to the allegations, Shaibu’s lawyer and former state commissioner, Andrew Emwanta, dismissed them as “balderdash.”