Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Engineer Omobayo Marvellous Godwin, has filed a petition to the Inspector General of Police, alleging attempts by the Edo State Government to use the police to interfere with an ongoing court case concerning the legitimacy of his tenure.
In the petition dated October 28, 2025, and addressed to the IGP at the Louis West House, Abuja, Godwins described a recent press statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Edo State as a deliberate move to provoke the police into acting in contempt of court.
The press release, numbered 225/ EDSGH/2025 allegedly referred to Godwins as a “former illegitimate deputy governor” and issued a one week ultimatum for him to return government property. It also purportedly threatened to direct the Edo state Commissioner of Police to arrest him if he failed to comply.
Godwins emphasized that the issues raised in the statement are sun judice, as they are currently before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, in Appel No. CA/ABI/CV/856/2024, which stems from a Federal Highly Court Judgement delivered on July 17, 2024.
He noted that a motion for stay of execution and injunction is pending before the appellate court, warning that any police action at this stage could amount to judicial interference.
“It is only the Court of Appeal that can validly pronounce on the legitimacy or otherwise of my tenure as Deputy Governor of Edo State,” Godwins stated. “The Police must not allow themselves to be used to perpetrate illegality or to interfere with the judicial process.”
The former deputy governor maintained that he remains entitled to all benefits and privileges of his former office, stressing that no court order has revoked or suspended his entitlements pending the appeal’s determination.