BENIN CITY – THERE was unease in the government house on Sunday as the Edo State Government alleged that Philip Shaibu has perfected plans to invade the Edo State Government House on Monday to enforce his reinstatement.
The state government stated that a stay of execution appeal has been filed challenging Justice J. K. Omotosho’s earlier ruling of the case.
All efforts to reach Shaibu Saturday night and on Sunday were unsuccessful as his known three mobile lines were either switched off or not reachable but one of his aides and one of his associates denied the allegation.
Also, the office of the Deputy Governor along Commercial Avenue yesterday was also deserted with the entry gate closed while a machine gun-mounted police truck with three policemen was parked at the gate.
Vanguard gathered that staff of the office were on Friday told to resume at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Agency (JOOPSA) while the official vehicles in the deputy governor’s office including the Press Crew Bus have been moved to the office of the Head of Service inside the Government House in Osadebey Avenue.
A staff told Vanguard on Sunday that “You know we are civil servants, we were told to resume in JOOPSA on Thursday and that was where we also resumed on Friday and we would also do that tomorrow (Monday).”
Meanwhile in a statement, the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, called on the Inspector General of Police and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from his plan to enter into government house saying it would be a recipe for chaos.
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 to anarchy because of the ambition of one man.
“The last time Shaibu attempted to do this, it led to the death of a police officer. We believe that is one death too many and it is only wise for us to prevent a repeat of such.”
Osagie added that the government lawyers have written to the IGP and other stakeholders, highlighting the fact 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 be stayed pending the hearing and determination of the Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction Pending Appeal so as not to foist a situation of helplessness on the Court of Appeal and render the Order nugatory in the case that the application is granted.”
He added that the appeal case raises special circumstances and substantial arguable grounds in respect of which the Court ought to grant the application as this will ensure that the plaintiff/respondent (Shaibu) does nothing to cause a breach of the peace or break down of law and order in Benin City and Edo State.
However, Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, in a statement on Sunday said there was no iota of truth in the government statement.
He noted that the state government should come to terms with the fact that the election has been lost and won, describing the allegation as cheap blackmail cum propaganda.
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 cum propaganda.”
Also, reacting to the allegation, Shaibu’s lawyer and a former Commissioner under the current state government, Andrew Emwanta said, “This is balderdash.”
