Former Edo Deputy Governor Omobayo Petitions IGP Over Ultimatum, Threat of Arrest

Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Engr. Marvellous Omobayo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over a one-week ultimatum issued by the Edo State government demanding the return of official properties in his possession or face arrest.Omobayo, who is also challenging the state government's description of him as an "illegitimate" deputy governor, stated that the legitimacy of his tenure is pending before the Court of Appeal and urged authorities to await the court's decision.The petition, dated October 28, 2025, and addressed to the IGP, was copied to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Security Adviser. It was made available to Vanguard in Benin City.In the letter, Omobayo maintained that he remains entitled to all benefits as a former deputy governor pending the determination of his appeal, emphasizing that no court has issued any order affecting his entitlements.Recall that the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, had issued a statement on October 28, 2025, giving Omobayo a one-week ultimatum to return all government properties and assets, while threatening arrest and referring to him as the “former illegitimate deputy governor.”Part of Omobayo’s letter read: “The above referenced press release dated 28 October, 2025 wherein the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor purported to issue a one-week ultimatum to the undersigned to return state-owned property. The press release refers to the undersigned as ‘...former illegitimate deputy governor, Mr. Godwin Omobayo...’ and threatens ‘...to direct the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, to effect his arrest...’.”He continued: “Kindly note that the issue of the legitimacy or otherwise of my tenure as Deputy Governor of Edo State from April to November 2024... is the subject matter of an Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/856/2024 pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja... There is also a pending application for stay of execution of the trial court’s judgment and for injunction pending the determination of the appeal.”Omobayo warned that any action by the police to enforce the ultimatum would amount to contempt of court and interference with judicial processes.“It is only the court (in this instance the Court of Appeal) which can validly pronounce on the legitimacy or otherwise of my tenure... and it is only right that the Nigerian Police Force refrain from being instigated to take actions that are capable of being interpreted as contemptuous of the court,” he stated.He further cautioned against self-help or the use of force in a matter that is sub judice, adding: “I remain entitled to all benefits I am enjoying as a former Deputy Governor of Edo State pending the determination of the appeal and no court has made any order touching on my benefits and entitlements.”Omobayo expressed confidence that the IGP would not allow the police to be used to “perpetrate illegality.”

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