Court orders Fubara’s CoS’ arrest for burning Rivers Assembly

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over his alleged involvement in the burning of the state House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The presiding judge Justice Emeka Nwite, gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

Justice Nwite also ordered the arrest of five other accomplices.

Those ordered to be arrested along with Ehie are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, well known as Rambo.

Ehie, who was recently appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional Speaker of the House, was alleged to be among the suspects charged by the IGP for committing the offence.

The ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/12/2024, 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.

Governor’s supporters remanded in prison for burning Rivers Assembly

In the ex-parte application moved by Simon Lough (SAN) and DCP, the six defendants were said to be at large.

The lawyer told the court that the defendants were involved in conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder, and murder of SP Bako Agbashim and five other police informants.

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

Justice Nwite, therefore, granted the IGP’s plea to declare the defendants wanted and upon their arrest and investigation, bring them before the court for trial.

The five suspected arsonists of the Assembly were on January 25 arraigned before a court presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon on allegations bordering on terrorism, among others.

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

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge and were ordered to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined by the judge.

The Star