Court orders arrest of Fubara’s chief of staff, others over burning of Assembly, DPO’s death

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued a warrant for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State Governor, over his alleged involvement in the burning of the State House of Assembly.

Ehie who is the immediate past factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly was ordered to be arrested along with five other persons based in Port Harcourt for allegedly participating in some criminal activities.

Those ordered to be arrested along with the former factional Speaker are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted an order on Wednesday for their arrest while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Inspector General of Police IGP.

The ex-parte application was predicated on sections 37, 113, 114, 84, and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and section 35 of the 1999 Constitution as well as 32 of the Police Act 2020.

In the ex-parte application argued by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Simon Lough, the six defendants were said to be at large.

The senior lawyer submitted that the defendants are involved in the conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder, and murder of a Superintendent of Police SP Bako Agbashim, and five other police informants.

The five police informants they are alleged to have killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.

Justice Nwite granted the request of the IGP to declare the defendants wanted and upon their arrest and investigation, bring them before the court for trial.

The ex-parte application is marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/12/2024.

The IGP Kayode Egbetokun had two weeks ago put five Port Harcourt-based person’s on trial on terrorism charges and were remanded at Kuje Prison upon their arraignment.

They were ordered to remain in prison custody till February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined by the Judge.

The five defendants are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

In the seven-count charges, the defendants were accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly during the wake of political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon ordered their remand at the Kuje Prison.