Alleged Murder Of DPO, Terrorism: Court Orders Arrest Of Gov Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Five Others
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, issued a warrant of arrest against the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Rivers State Governor, Hon Edison Ehie and five others over allegation of involvement in the burning of the State House of Assembly.
The Court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite granted order for their arrest while ruling on an ex-parte application brought before it by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Hon. Ehie, who is the immediate past Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly before he resigned his position, was ordered by the Court to be arrested along with five other persons domiciled in Port Harcourt over their alleged involvement in some criminal activities.
The other persons ordered to be arrested by the Court include, Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.
The ex-parte application by the IGP 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 in addition to section 32 of the Police Act 2020.
In the ex-parte application argued by Simon Lough, SAN, who is a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said that the six defendants were at large.
DCP Lough also submitted that the defendants were involved in arson, terrorism, conspiracy, attempted murder and murder of a Superintendent of Police (SP) Bako Agbashim and five other police informants.
The five police informants that were alleged to have killed included Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.
While granting the arrest warrant based on the request of the IGP, Justice Nwite requested 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 had two weeks ago accused and charged five Port Harcourt-based persons on trial for terrorism related offences charges and were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre untill February 2, when their respective bail applications would be determined by the Court.
The five accused ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, included Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.
In the 7-count charge, the defendants were accused of committing terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly during the wake of political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October 2023.
