Court orders arrests Fubara's Chief of Staff, five others for terrorism, DPO killing
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, for allegedly being involved in the burning of the House of Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt.
In addition to five other individuals residing in Port Harcourt, Ehie, the immediate former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was issued an arrest warrant on suspicion of involvement in unlawful activities.
In addition to the erstwhile factional speaker, the following individuals have been issued arrest warrants: Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter (Rambo).
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the arrest warrant on Wednesday during his deliberation on an ex parte petition submitted by the Inspector General of Police IGP. Nwite rendered his ruling in that regard.
Sections 37, 113, 114, 84, and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, and section 32 of the Police Act 2020 formed the basis for the ex parte application.
According to the ex parte application presented by Simon Lough, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, the six defendants were stated to be fugitives.
The senior attorney alleged that the defendants are implicated in terrorism, conspiracy, arson, and the attempted murder of Superintendent of Police Bako Agbashim, in addition to the murders of five other police informants.
Five police informants, namely Saturday Edi, Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, and Paul Victor Chibuogu, are presumed deceased.
Justice Nwite granted the IGP's plea to declare the defendants sought and bring them to trial after their arrest and investigation.
FHC/ABJ/CS/12/2024 is the prefix of the ex parte order.
Five individuals domiciled in Port Harcourt were held in custody at Kuje Prison following their arraignment by the IGP two weeks ago on terrorism-related charges.
Their bail applications would be adjudicated by the judge on February 2, at which point they were ordered to remain in prison detention.
Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, Ochueja ThankGod, and Chime Eguma Ezebalike are the five defendants.
The defendants were charged under seven counts of terrorism-related offences in relation to the alleged invasion, vandalism, and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt in October of last year, following a political crisis.
Their remand to the Kuje Prison was warranted by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon.
