Court Stops Obaseki, Others From Arresting Oshiomhole

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and others from arresting the suspended National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed restated its orders made on June 1 restraining Obaseki from arresting Oshiomhole over alleged indictment in a white paper submitted to the state government.

“The orders of the court made on June 1st still subsist pending the resolution of the issue of jurisdiction,” he said while adjourning the suit filed by Oshiomhole challenging the Edo state government’s probe of his administration’s handling of some projects in the state.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was the Governor of Edo State from November 2008 to November 2016.

At the case on Wednesday, Oshiomhole’s lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa said he was served with the notices of preliminary objection by the 1st to 4th and the 6th respondents on the 9th of June, 2020.

West-Idahosa said although he has filed all responses to the processes, he was yet to serve all the respondents.

The 5th respondent was not represented on Wednesday, but Kingsley Idahosa (for the 1st to 4th respondent) and U. S. Danbarawa (for the 6th respondent) agreed to an adjournment for service to be effected on all parties.

Ruling, Justice Mohammed granted the request for an adjournment and adjourned till June 29 for the hearing of either the respondents’ motions, challenging court’s jurisdiction alone, or with the substantive application.

He also said the orders of the court made on June 1, 2020 still subsist pending the resolution of the issue of jurisdiction.

Naija News recalls that Governor Obaseki had set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the administration of Oshiomhole.

The panel headed by Justice J. Oyomire had, in a white paper, indicted the suspended APC National Chairman for an act of corruption.

The panel also recommended the arrest and prosecution of Oshiomhole.

Respondents in the suit filed by Oshiomhole are the Edo State Government, Obaseki, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner, Justice Oyomire, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Service (DSS).