A federal high court sitting in Abuja has directed all parties to maintain status quo in the suit by Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu in which he alleged the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki is trying to withdraw his security details and impeach him.
Shaibu had approached the court to grant a restraining order against Obaseki and others.
When the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023, came up for hearing on Thursday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed directed all parties to maintain status quo until the next hearing date just as it ruled previously.
Justice Mohammed observed that only three out of the five defendants have complied with an earlier order for them to show cause why the interlocutory injunctions being sought by the plaintiff should not be granted.
Those listed as defendants are: the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the State Security Service (SSS), the Governor of Edo State, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge of Edo State.
During Thursday’s hearing, the DSS lawyer, I. Awo in an oral application, asked for time to enable his client to comply with the order.
Justice Mohammed adjourned till August 22 for all the defendants to show cause and possibly, the hearing of the substantive suit, in the case that all necessary processes were filed.
The judge also ordered the issuance of a hearing notice on the IGP, who has also not complied with the order to show cause and was equally not represented in court by a lawyer.
Justice Muhammed thereafter ordered all parties to continue to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the next date.
