A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of an alleged contempt case filed by Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, against Godwins Omobayo to November 4. The adjournment follows a motion ex parte granted by Justice James Omotosho, allowing for substituted service of Form 49 on Omobayo.
During the proceedings, Shaibu’s lawyer, Ini-obong Ebiekpi, informed the court that although Omobayo had been served with Form 48, efforts to serve him with Form 49 had been unsuccessful. Consequently, the motion for substituted service was filed.
Justice Omotosho granted the motion and rescheduled the hearing for November 4. The judge had previously fixed this date for hearing the contempt charge against Omobayo, who was appointed as Edo’s deputy governor by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
On the last adjourned date, Shaibu’s representative, Reuben Egwuaba, informed the court that a contempt charge had been filed for Omobayo’s alleged disobedience to a prior court judgment. The judge mandated that all relevant court documents, including Form 49, be served on Omobayo, providing him with an opportunity to respond to the contempt charge.
Egwuaba had requested a short adjournment due to the impending end of the current state government’s tenure on November 12. He noted that the court’s judgment delivered on July 17 had been served on Omobayo, and multiple letters to the state assembly had yielded no response.
In a related development, Justice Omotosho had previously struck out two motions from the Edo government and the House of Assembly that challenged Shaibu’s reinstatement. He also imposed costs of N200,000 each against the state government and the assembly, totaling N400,000.