Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a #50 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu against the immediate past governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, and four others.

Justice Lifu, in a ruling on Monday, dismissed the suit following the former deputy governor’s application for its withdrawal. When the matter was called, counsel to Philip Shaibu, Anita Oteh, .informed the court that parties in the suit had settled their differences, hence the application for withdrawal. However, Aliyu Abdulkadir, who appeared for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the fourth defendant in the suit, told the court that he was not aware of the settlement. Oteh disagreed with the request by the fourth defendant and urged the court to grant the application for withdrawal. In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that dismissed the suit In view of the fact that issues have been joined in the matter.

Shaibu, in his writ of summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/914/2024, filed on 19 July 2024 by his counsel, Egwuaba Reuben, joined the Edo State Governor, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), the AGF, and the Attorney General of Edo State as first to fifth defendants, respectively. The plaintiff sought Eight Reliefs, including an order of the court directing the defendants to pay him the sum of #50 billion jointly or severally, as aggravated and exemplary damages for the illegal and unconstitutional violation of his fundamental rights. He also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further arresting or detaining him, repeating or continuing any act or further acts in violation of his fundamental rights on issues bordering on or connected to facts of the case without the leave of the court.