The court ordered Shaibu's salaries and allowances to be paid to him from April when he was removed from office. It also ordered the inspector general of police to restore his security details.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has reinstated Philip Shaibu as the deputy governor of Edo State, three months after the Edo House of Assembly impeached him.

The judge, James Omotosho, declared on Wednesday that Mr Shaibu's impeachment by the state assembly was illegal, Channels Television reported.

Mr Omotosho ordered the inspector general of police to restore Mr Shaibu's security details. He directed that his salaries and allowances be paid since April, when he was removed from office.

The Edo Assembly has appealed the judgement and filed for a stay of its execution pending the determination of the appeal.

Mr Shaibu had vowed to challenge his impeachment, saying he was confident that the legal system would vindicate him.

He described his removal from office as a "dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to democracy," adding that it was "hatched because of his governorship ambition."

His removal was the peak of his political rift with Governor Godwin Obaseki, who did not support his ambition to succeed him.

The Edo Assembly had accused Mr Shaibu of perjury and disclosure of government secrets.