Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has been accused of colluding with former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, in a plan to divert over ₦40 billion from the state’s treasury.

Sources allege that the money is being disguised as unpaid allowances and entitlements due to Shaibu during his tenure as acting governor and deputy governor between 2016 and 2024.

Sources told Naijaonpoint that to actualise the payout, Shaibu has approached the National Industrial Court, Abuja, demanding payment of over ₦40 billion. The suit, marked NICN/Abj/133/2025, also includes a request for over ₦85 million allegedly incurred as medical bills for his wife, Maryann, between 2016 and 2024.

Insiders disclosed that Shaibu had first approached Okpebholo, and both men allegedly reached an understanding for him to secure a court order as legal cover for the payments.

Recall that Shaibu was impeached by the Edo House of Assembly on April 8, 2024, after a seven-man panel led by Justice S.A. Omonua (retd.) found him guilty of perjury and leaking government secrets. Eighteen out of 19 lawmakers voted for his removal, while one abstained.

However, the Federal High Court in Abuja later faulted the impeachment, a ruling which the Assembly appealed and which was eventually set aside by the Court of Appeal.

Shaibu has since returned to the courts, this time seeking massive compensation for what he describes as unpaid entitlements during his sack and his two terms in office.

According to court documents, the former deputy governor is seeking the payment ₦1.9bn for Security Votes for his eight years tenure as the elected Deputy Governor of Edo State.

Shaibu will also wants ₦1.5bn for the three 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Luxury SUV (Ulta-Lightweight Armouring Level) and ₦1.5bn for three Toyota Hilux.

Other payments to be made to Shaibu, according to court papers are, “sum of ₦11,588,220,907.07 (Eleven Billion, Five Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand and Nine Hundred and Seven Naira, Seven Kobo) for the payment of the Claimant travel duty tour allowance and other statutory allowances and other statutory allowances due to the Claimant as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

“The Sum of ₦160,000,000 (One Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2016 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The sum of ₦530,000,000 (Five Hundred and Thirty Million Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2017 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The Sum of N650,000,000 (Six Hundred and Finty Million Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2018 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The Sum of ₦700,000,000 (Seven Hundred Million Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2019 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The Sum of ₦1,040,000,000.00 (One Billion and Forty Million Naira Only) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2020 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The Sum of ₦725,000,000 (Seven Hundred and Twenty Five Million Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2021 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The Sum of ₦660,000,000 (Six Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2022 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The Sum of ₦1,352,000,000 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty-Two Million Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2023 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.

“The Sum of ₦345,552,72000 (Three Hundred and Forty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Fifty- Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Naira) only as the Claimants statutory entitlement under the Edo State Year 2024 Approved Appropriation Law duly enacted by the House of Assembly under the administrative Code 0111100100200.”

Others are “The sum o ₦1,491,329,478 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety One Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira) for the three (3) 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Luxury SUV (B64-Ultra-Lightweight Armouring Level) which each proforma invoice current price is ₦497,109,826.00 (Four Hundred and Ninety Seven Million, One Hundred Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Six Naira) only being the price of each of the and three (3) 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Luxury SUV (B6-+Ultra-Lightweight Armouring Level) due to the Claimant any other three (3) vehicles of equivalent amount due to the Claimant as the Deputy Governor of Edo State for the period of Eight (8) years and by the Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Laws of Edo State”

He is also entitled to “Three (3) of the aforesaid vehicle which total ₦1,491,329,478 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety One Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira) and the sum of ₦75,144,508.00 (Seventy Five Million, One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Eight Naira) only being the price of Toyota Hilux 4WD DC Shell Spec Automatic Transmission Petrol Fabric due to the Claimant as the former Deputy Governor of Edo State (2016 -2024) in line with the Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Edo State 2007, 2016, which were the official vehicles of the Claimant before the expiration of his tenure in 2024.”

He will also receive, “The Sum of ₦100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) as the Claimant entitlement for a house or a new house in a location of his choice in Nigeria in line with the Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Edo State 2007, 2016 amendment law 2023 of Edo State.

“The Sum of ₦85,000,000.00 (Eighty-Five Million Naira) only as outstanding hospital bills for Claimant’s wife for her medical treatment between 2016 – 2024.”

He also an order directing the defendants “to jointly and severally pay to the Claimant the total sum of ₦4,288,811.52 (Four Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eleven Naira, Fifty Two Kobo) as total unpaid salary due to the Claimant for a period of seven months (May – November 2024) at the rate of ₦612,687.36k (Six Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira and Thirty Six Kobo) monthly salary as Deputy Governor of Edo State

“To jointly and severally pay to the Claimant the total sum of ₦485,171,000.00 (Four Hundred and Eighty-Five Million; One Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand Naira) only being the value of the Claimant’s personal belongings which were confiscated and withheld by the Defendants after the Claimant was forcefully ejected from his residence as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.”

He will also get, “The sum of ₦105,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Five Million Naira) only being the approved Appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2017 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under institution’s code: 011100100200 and ministry code 011100100100 in page 68 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2017 Approved Budget.

“The Sum of ₦449,122,851.60 (Four Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-One Naira, Sixty Kobo) being the budgetary provision for personnel cost and overhead cost statutory entitlement of the Claimant

“The Sum of ₦700,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred Million Naira) being the budgetary provision for personnel cost and overhead cost statutory entitlement of the Claimant for 2018.

“The sum of ₦54,000,000.00 (Fifty-Four Million Naira) only being the approved appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2018 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under Institution’s code: 11100100200 and ministry code: 011100100100 in page 54 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2018 Approved Budget

“The sum of ₦472,797,216.47 (Four Hundred and Seventy-Two Million Seven Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty-Naira, Forty-Seven Kobo) only being the approved Appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2019 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under Institution’s code: 11100100200 and ministry code: 011100100100 in page 52 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2019 Approved Budget for the Claimants personal cost

“The Sum of ₦700,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred Million Naira) being the budgetary provision for personnel cost and overhead cost statutory entitlement of the Claimant for 2019.

“The sum of ₦20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) only being the approved appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2020 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under institution’s code: 011100100200 and ministry code: 011100100100 in page 56 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2020 Approved Budget.

“The sum of ₦20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) only being the approved appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2021 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under institution’s code: 011100100200 and ministry code: 011100100100 in page 56 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2021 Approved Budget.

“The sum of ₦750,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) being the budgetary provision as reflected in page 50 of the Edo State Government Year 2022 approved budget.

“The sum of ₦600,000,000.00 (Six Hundred Million Naira) only being the approved appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2022 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under administrative code: 011100100200 in page 50 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2022 Approved Budget.

“The sum of ₦1,300,000,000.00 (One Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira) only being the approved appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2023 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under administrative code: 011100100200 in page 66 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2023 Approved Budget

“The sum of ₦54,322,720.54 (Fifty Four Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Naira, Fifty Four Kobo) only being the approved appropriation entitlement of the Claimant by the 2024 Edo State Budgetary expenditure under administrative code: 011100100200 in page 62 of Edo State of Nigeria Year 2024 Approved Budget:

“The total sum of ₦81,630.000.00 (Eighty-One Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2016.

“The total sum of ₦445,142,185.30 (Four Hundred and Forty-Five Million, One Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-Five Naira, Thirty Kobo) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2017.

“The total sum of ₦317,035,096.00 (Three Hundred and Seventeen Million and Thirty-Five Thousand and Ninety-Six Naira) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2018

“The total sum of ₦1,283,350,030.75 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty- Three Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand and Thirty Naira and Seven Five Kobo) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2019.

“The total sum of ₦471,768,300.00 (Four Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand and Three Hundred Naira) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2020

“The total sum of ₦1,037,049,625.14 (One Billion and Thirty-Seven Million, Forty Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Naira, Fourteen Kobo) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2021.

The total sum of ₦573,669,325.60 (Five Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Six Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand and Three Hundred and Twenty Five Naira, Sixty Kobo) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2022.

The total sum of ₦32,271,625.00 (Thirty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Naira) only as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2023

The total sum of ₦4,010,000.00 (Four Million and Ten Thousand Naira) as outstanding and unpaid travel allowances and out of pocket expenses for the year 2024.

“The total sum of ₦8,282,507,532.07 (Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty- Two Million, Five Hundred and Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty- Two Naira, Seven Kobo) as the Claimant outstanding travel allowances and other statutory allocations due to the Claimant within the period of his position as the Acting Governor of Edo State and other part of his position as the Elected Deputy Governor of Edo State for the period of eight (8) years.”

Shaibu is also seeking the court to direct the defendants to “jointly and severally pay to the Claimant the sum of ₦500,000,000.00 as general damages for the injury suffered by the Claimant for the unlawful withholding of the Claimant’s salaries, statutory allocations as Deputy Governor, confiscation of the Claimant’s personal belongings and his unpaid-travel expenses and illegal withholding of Pension Rights and Entitlement of the Claimant as the Elected Deputy Governor of Edo State.”

Shaibu will also be paid ₦50 million as the cost of litigation incurred for this suit.

See court documents below:

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CT – HE. RT. HON. PHILIP SHAIBU