Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday nullified the impeachment of Phillip Shuaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. The court ordered Shuaibu’s immediate reinstatement, ruling that the Edo State House of Assembly did not follow due process in the impeachment proceedings.

Justice Omotosho also annulled the appointment of Shuaibu’s replacement. He stated that the allegations used by the House of Assembly to justify the impeachment did not amount to gross misconduct under the law.

The court directed the Inspector General of Police to provide Shuaibu with the necessary security to resume his duties until the end of his tenure.

In response to the ruling, the Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the judgment and filed a motion for a stay of execution pending the appeal’s outcome.

This verdict comes three months after the lawmakers impeached the 54-year-old Shuaibu, following a recommendation by a seven-man panel that found him guilty of disclosing government secrets. Eighteen out of 19 members present at the plenary voted for Shuaibu’s impeachment, with one abstention.

Following his impeachment, Shuaibu criticized the lawmakers, describing the action as a threat to democracy and attributing it to his ambition to contest the Edo State governorship election in 2024 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Hours after the impeachment, Governor Godwin Obaseki appointed 37-year-old Omobayo Godwins as the new deputy governor, and he was sworn in by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.

Shuaibu and Obaseki have had a strained relationship, marked by accusations, apologies, and court cases, largely due to Shuaibu’s governorship ambitions. Shuaibu contested the PDP governorship primary and declared himself the winner in a parallel poll, although businessman Asue Ighodalo was officially recognized as the party’s candidate.