Justice James Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted permission to the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, to join the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly in the suit challenging his impeachment before the court.
The Judge also allowed the former Deputy Governor to join the new Deputy Governor as a defendant in the suit.
Ruling in a motion on notice filed by Shaibu, Justice Omotoso agreed with the counsel to the former Deputy Governor, Ayotunde Ogunleye (SAN), that both the Speaker and the new Deputy Governor are necessary parties in the suit.
The Judge held that the name of the Speaker features prominently in the impeachment process, hence, must be brought to court for an order that would be made to legally bind them.
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Justice Omotoso dismissed the objections raised against the motion on notice by the Speaker and the Deputy Governor for being frivolous and without merit.
The Judge subsequently invoked Order 17 Rule 1 of the Federal High Court and ordered that the Speaker and the Deputy Governor be joined in the suit.
The Court also granted permission to the former Deputy Governor to amend his originating summons in the suit to reflect the name of the Speaker and the Deputy Governor as the 9th and 10th defendants in the matter.
Meanwhile, the hearing in the substantive suit has been fixed for June 3, 2024, based on the accelerated hearing ordered by the Judge.
