A federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order barring the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki from arresting and prosecuting his predecessor and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.
Obaseki had set up an investigative panel led by James Oyomire in January 2020 to probe the construction of the Edo Specialist Hospital as well as the supply of equipments to same.
The panel indicted former governor Oshiomhole in May for breaching the public procurement law of Edo State.
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The APC national chairman thereafter sought an ex parte order from the court to stop his arrest and prosecution on account of the indictment by the investigative panel.
The order was challenged by the Edo State government after which the Judge, Ahmed Mohammed ruled on Monday that the state government stay action pending the determination of the issue of jurisdiction.
“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 judge said.
Counsel to Adams Oshiomhole, West Idahosa was also directed to serve processes to respondents within 48 hours.
The Attorney General of Edo State and Commissioner for Justice, Yinka Omorogbe, James Oyomire, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services, are also respondents in the suit.