Shaibu denies plot to invade Edo govt house

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

But Shaibu, through his Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, denied the allegation, which he described as “propaganda and cheap blackmail.”

In a statement on Sunday morning, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Government, Crusoe Osagie, called on the Inspector General of Police and all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from “his devious plot” as it was a clear recipe for chaos, given the fact that a policeman was killed the last time he attempted such action.

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 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 had written to the IG and other stakeholders, highlighting the fact that “all actions relating to the enforcement and/or execution of the judgment 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 p .”

He added that the appeal raised special circumstances and substantial arguable grounds in respect of which the court ought to grant the application as this would ensure that the plantiff/respondent (Shaibu) does nothing to cause a breach of the peace or breakdown of law and order in Benin City and Edo State.

However, Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretaryu, Musa Ebomhiana, in a statement on Sunday, Day 5 baby things usaid there was no iota of truth in the government’s statement.

He said Governor Godwin Obaseki should come to terms with  the defeat of his candidate in the September 21 governorship election, instead of resorting to “cheap blackmail cum propaganda.”