A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant against the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Rivers State Governor, Hon Edison Ehie, and five others.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Wednesday following a motion-exparte filed by the Inspector-General of Police through his counsel, S.A. Lough.
The arrest pertains to their alleged involvement in the burning of the state’s House of Assembly and attempted murder.
Ehie, the defendant, is to be arrested alongside Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter (also known as Rambo).
The court action comes as a response to the Inspector-General of Police’s assertion that the six defendants are at large, necessitating their arrest to face charges related to terrorism, attempted murder, and the killing of Superintendent of Police, SP Bako Agbashim, along with five police informants.
Background
Prior to this development, River politics have been a subject of legal scrutiny in three Federal High Courts within Abuja.
In a related case, five defendants, namely Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod, faced arraignment before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon.
The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, accused them of collaborating with Ehie and others to wreak havoc on the state assembly building.
The charges against these defendants specifically detail acts of terrorism on October 29, 2023, including the destruction and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The charges carry severe penalties under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
Court Decision
During the court proceedings, Simon Lough, the IGP’s lawyer, argued that the arrest request aligns with various legal provisions, including 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.
Justice Nwite granted the Inspector-General’s prayers, endorsing the police’s move to “declare them wanted.”