Philip Shaibu escapes assassination a day after Abuja High Court voided his impeachment as Edo deputy governor
Story from Uji A. ILIYASU
Comrade Philip Shaibu, who was impeached but reinstated as deputy governor of Edo State, came under heavy gunshots by assasins in Benin City, Edo State capital, on Thursday.
Shaibu, whose impeachment was voided by a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, had returned to Edo from Abuja when his convoy was attacked.
He was in company of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, when the gunmen who reportedly killed a police officer in their convoy, struck.
The incident occurred on Airport Road, when Okpebholo and several others, arrived in the city from Abuja aboard a chartered flight.
It was not immediately known if Okpebholo was wounded, but he was said to be hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital in Benin City.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, had on Wednesday voided the impeachment of Shaibu as the state deputy governor by the state House of Assembly.
The House of Assembly, however, in a statement, said it had appealed the judgement.
READ ALSO: Edo Assembly appeals verdict nullifying Shaibu’s impeachment as deputy governor
The assassins, in a vehicle, at the exit gate of the airport, were said to have opened fire on the convoy, which led to a reprisal by the armed security details attached to the APC candidate and Shaibu.
The incident forced shops and offices to hurriedly close down, while the majority of motorists abandoned their vehicles and scampered to safety.
When contacted, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo said the incident was being investigated.
“It is premature for the police to confirm at this time until the investigation is concluded,” he said.
Meanwhile, a check showed that security had been strengthened at the premises of the state deputy governor, Godwins Omobayo, located at Osadebey Avenue, near the airport, in Benin City to forestall any attack on him.
During the unprovoked attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured with bullet wounds, while one of the policemen was feared dead.
Proofreading, editing by Uji A. Iliyasu, Editor at Neptune Prime
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