The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday issued an interim order restraining the Edo State Government, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and others from acting on the report of the state’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry which indicted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, for corruption.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling on an ex parte application filed on May 27, 2020 by Oshiomhole, asked parties not to take any step including any plan to arrest the APC chairman.
He ordered the respondents to the suit including the Edo State Government, the governor, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Department of State Services, not to take any action until the court decides whether or not it has jurisdiction to entertain the APC chairman’s suit.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry led by Justice James Oyomire (retd.) was set up by the Edo State Government to investigate and make recommendations over the construction of the Edo Specialist Hospital and supply of equipment for the hospital, during the tenure of Oshiomhole as the governor of the state.
The commission in its report issued in May indicted Oshiomhole’s administration for breach of the state’s Public Procurement Law.
As part of the eight recommendations contained in the white paper which the statement government issued on the strength of the report, the JCI urged the Ministry of Justice to institute civil and criminal actions against those found culpable in the breach of the law.
But Oshiomhole had, in an ex parte application, through his lawyer, Mr. West Idahosa, sought among others, an order of interim injunction restraining the state government, the governor, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the IG and the DSS “from giving effect to the report submitted by the 4th respondent (Justice Oyomire)”.
It also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the IG and the DSS or any security agency from arresting or harassing the applicant in any manner whatsoever on account of the report submitted by the JCI.
None of the respondents was expected in court on Monday because the scheduled hearing was for Oshiomhole’s ex parte application which does not involve the adverse parties, but the Edo State Government, which apparently got wind of the proceedings ahead, had rushed to file a preliminary objection.
PUNCH
Be the first to comment