Court to decide on Fubara’s chief of staff arrest March 25
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed March 25, 2024 for ruling on an application seeking to vacate the warrant for the arrest of the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Edison Ehie, over his alleged involvement in the burning of the state House of Assembly among others.
Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 31, 2024, ordered the arrest of Ehie, Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo following an ex-parte application brought by the Inspector General of Police.
An explosion had rocked the complex of the state assembly amid alleged moves by some lawmakers to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara on October 30, 2023.
Bala, Benedict, Joseph, Oyagiri, and Peter were arraigned in Abuja before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon for conspiracy, arson, attempted murder, and murder on January 24, 2024.
Although Ehie’s name was mentioned in the counts, he was not listed among the defendants.
At the proceedings on Monday, Ehie’s lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, urged the court to set aside the warrant, adding that his client had not turned down any invitation by the police to deserve such an order.
He said, “He was never invited by the police for anything.
“All that he saw was that they filed a charge; they mentioned his name in four out of seven charges for murder and arson.”
He also argued that it was strange that the IGP left all the courts in Rivers State, where the alleged offences were committed, to file an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“Your Lordship has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter here,” Aladedoye added.
The counsel for the other defendants, Femi Falana (SAN), also said the crime his clients were alleged to have committed were state offences.
He said, “What is disclosed are state offences; it is our submission that this court cannot exercise any jurisdiction in state offences without the fiat of the Attorney General of Rivers State. ”
The IGP’s lawyer, Simon Loughe, submitted that the matter was within the jurisdiction of the court, adding that
an arrest warrant issued by the Federal High Court can be executed anywhere in Nigeria.
Justice Nwite after listening to the lawyers’ arguments adjourned the matter till March 25.
