The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has filed a N50 billion lawsuit against Governor Godwin Obaseki and six others, accusing them of defamation of character. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, comes amidst a growing rift between Shaibu and his former political ally, Obaseki.
The lawsuit, with suit number CV/3730/24, lists Shaibu as the claimant. The defendants named in the suit include the Governor of Edo State, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Attorney General of Edo State, as well as two major newspapers—Daily Trust and Vanguard. Additionally, Prof. Faith Osadolor, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, is also listed among the defendants.
Shaibu alleges that defamatory statements made in several publications have caused significant damage to his reputation. Specifically, the publications in question include articles published on July 2, 2024, by Daily Trust and Vanguard newspapers, as well as press releases issued by the Edo State Ministry of Communication and Orientation in late July 2024. The deputy governor contends that these publications falsely portrayed him as a violent and corrupt figure, which has damaged his hard-earned reputation.
In the publications, Shaibu was accused of various forms of misconduct, including abuse of office, fraud, and orchestrating violence in the state. One of the statements from the July press release reads: “The Edo State Government hereby issues this notice directing the retrieval of official government vehicles allocated to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State, which are currently in the custody of the former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.”
Shaibu claims that these accusations are baseless and were made to deliberately tarnish his image. He has asked the court to award him N50 billion in damages for the alleged defamatory statements. In addition, he is seeking an order for the defendants to retract their statements and issue a public apology, which should be published in two national newspapers.
Shaibu also seeks N20 million as compensation for the cost of the lawsuit, as well as N10 million in exemplary damages. Furthermore, he is asking the court to impose a 10% interest on the judgment sum from the date of the judgment until the full payment is made.
A DECLARATION that the false statement published at page 22 of Daily Trust Newspaper of Tuesday, 2nd July, 2024 and Vanguard Newspaper dated Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at page 22 Vol. 41, No. 10. by the Defendants to wit: “The Edo State Government hereby issues this notice directing the retrieval of official government vehicles allocated to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State, which are currently in the custody of the former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu. The former Deputy Governor is by this notice given a seven-day ultimatum from the date of this publication to return the vehicles, as relevant security agencies have been put on alert to retrieve the vehicles after the expiration of the notice.”, the press released of the Edo State Ministry of Communication and Orientation on the 26th of July, 2024 stating thus: “The APC and Comrade Philip Shaibu had earlier sent another Petition to the security agencies listing 21 leaders and members of the PDP, asking the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest them for the violence on Airport Road in Benin City, which was orchestrated by Philip Shaibud to disrupt the peace of Edo State” and the Edo State Government’s Press released of 18th and 19th of July, 2024 published by the Defendants to wit: “The Edo State Government has observed the level of wanton destruction perpetrated by thugs and elements working in connivance with former Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu in the guise of purportedly enforcing a judgment reinstating him in office. Shaibu led thugs through Airport Road axis of Benin City, attacking innocent citizens who are going about their lawful businesses. The State Government through this statement is warning Shaibu to desist from this turn to violence in the pretense that he is enforcing a judgment. He is reminded that he is not above the law and is liable for the wanton destruction perpetrated by him and his co-travelers. Shaibu’s violent tendencies is well documented and he has been warned at different times by respected figures of society. Including the revered Benin Monarch to shun violence. We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence that he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Edo State Government House even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgment has been filed.
