Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the plea to dismiss terrorism charges against five supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. On Friday, the judge turned down the request made by Hon Edison Ehie, the current Chief of Staff to the governor, to terminate the charges.
The court asserted that Ehie, who previously served as the factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, lacked the legal authority to seek the dismissal of the charges. Justice Olajuwon supported the arguments presented by the counsel to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who stated that Ehie could not make any application until he appears in court to enter his plea for the terrorism charges.
Ehie, represented by his lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye SAN, had applied for the dismissal of the criminal charges on various grounds. He contended that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to hear the trial since the alleged offenses occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Additionally, he claimed that he had not been indicted by the police for any offense.
However, the court rejected Ehie’s request, emphasizing that he had not yet appeared before the court to enter his plea. The police lawyer cited Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015.
In a brief ruling, Justice Olajuwon dismissed the former Speaker’s request and upheld the arguments put forth by the IGP. The judge noted that the charge sheet indicated that Ehie was at large and not listed on the charges as required by law. Justice Olajuwon advised the Chief of Staff to either surrender to the police or appear in court to enter a plea before making any applications.
The charges involve five defendants – Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod. The 7-count charges accuse the defendants of committing terrorism offenses by invading, vandalizing, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly during the political crisis in Port Harcourt in October of the previous year.