'You Can't Arrest Oshiomhole Over Panel Indictment' - Court Tells Governor Obaseki

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, extended the interim order barring governor Godwin Obaseki from arresting the suspended National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

 

Recall that Oshiomhole was indicted by a panel of inquiry set up by the state.

 

Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered all the parties involved in the matter to stay action till June 29 when the court will hear a motion challenging its jurisdiction to entertain an application Oshiomhole filed for the protection of his fundamental human rights.

 

Other Respondents in the matter are; Edo State government, the Attorney- General and Commissioner of Justice of Edo state, Chairman of the panel of inquiry, Justice J. Oyomire, the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service.

 

It will be recalled that the court had in a ruling on June 1, restrained both governor Obaseki and the other respondents from taking steps to arrest Oshiomhole who is a former governor of the state, over the report of the Justice Oyomire-led panel that indicted him for corruption and diversion of public funds.

 

Trial Justice Mohammed directed the parties to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the issue of jurisdiction.

 

The interim order followed an ex-parte application the embattled APC National Chairman filed through his team of lawyers led by Mr Ehiogie West-Idahosa.

 

He had prayed the court to stop his arrest and prosecution on account of a White Paper that was issued against him by the panel of inquiry the Edo state government constituted to probe him.