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A Federal High Court judge in Abuja has denied a request to throw out terrorism charges against five associates of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Hon. Edison Ehie, the governor’s Chief of Staff and a former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly sought to have the charges dismissed on Friday. However, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon ruled that Ehie lacked legal standing to make such a request until he appears in court and enter a plea.
Ehie’s lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, argued that the charges lacked merit and the court lacked jurisdiction as the alleged offences occurred in Port Harcourt. He also claimed Ehie had not been formally indicted.
The prosecution, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Simon Lough, countered that Ehie could not make any applications until he had been arraigned. Lough cited Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to support his argument.
Justice Olajuwon agreed with the prosecution, noting that Ehie was listed as “at large” on the charge sheet and had not yet been formally included in the case. He advised Ehie to surrender to the police or appear in court to be arraigned before making any further requests.
The five defendants currently facing charges are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod. They are accused of invading, vandalising, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly during a political crisis in October 2023. The charges, brought under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022, carry significant penalties if convicted.
