Justice Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to dismiss the terrorism charges against Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State.
Olajuwon held that Ehie, who was previously the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, did not have the authority to request for the dismissal of the charges adding that, the charges will therefore remain pending and will be decided by the court.
He further agreed with the counsel for the Inspector General of Police, Simon Lough, who argued that Ehie was not eligible to make any applications until he has appeared in court and taken his plea on the terrorism charges.
Gov. Fubara CoS had made an application through his lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, asking for the charges to be dropped. He argued that the Federal High Court in Abuja does not have jurisdiction over the case, as the alleged offences occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He also claimed that he had not been formally charged by the police with any crime.
The judge having heard arguments from both sides ultimately rejected the former Speaker’s request. The counsel for the police cited section 396 of the ACJA 2015, which states that a defendant cannot make any applications until they have appeared in court and taken their plea. He found that the charge sheet did not indicate that Ehie was present in court, and therefore the request could not be granted.
Olajuwon advised the Chief of Staff that he must either surrender to the police or appear in court to enter a plea before he can make any applications.
The five defendants named in the charge sheet are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja ThankGod.
The seven-count charge alleges that the defendants invaded, vandalized, and set fire to the Rivers State House of Assembly during the political crisis in Port Harcourt last October. The alleged acts violated Nigeria’s terrorism laws.