By our reporter| A federal high court in Abuja on Monday issued an interim order restraining Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from arrest and prosecution Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Edo State governor.
In May, a commission set up by Obaseki to probe the construction of the Edo specialist hospital and supply of equipment and led by James Oyomire indicted Oshiomhole for breach of the state’s public procurement law while serving as the state governor.
The commission subsequently recommended the arrest and prosecution of the former Labour leader.
But in an ex parte application filed through his lawyer West Idahosa, Oshiomhole asked the court to stop his arrest and based on the report of the panel.
The application was, however, opposed by Alex Ejeiseme, counsel to the Edo state government, who also contended that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter.
In his ruling after listening to bath parties, presiding judge, Ahmed Mohammed, ordered the respondents to stay action in pending the determination of the issue of jurisdiction.
The judge ruled, ”An interim order is hereby made restraining the prosecution of the applicant pursuant to the report submitted to the 1st to 3rd respondents or any white paper, pending the determination of the issue of jurisdiction raised in the 1st to 4th respondents notice preliminary objection.”
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to June 17, 2020, and also directed Oshiomhole’s counsel to serve all the respondents his processes within 48 hours.
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