A Federal High Court in Abuja ordered on Thursday that the five suspects charged with allegedly burning the Rivers House of Assembly on October 29, 2023, be remanded in a correctional facility.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon issued the decision after they were arraigned on a seven-count terrorism-related allegation.
Justice Olajuwon, who denied to accept their bail plea, said that their motion for bail was not ready for hearing.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the complainant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 is the Inspector-General (I-G), while the first to fifth defendants are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37; Prince Lukman Oladele, 47; Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, 40; Osiga Donald, 42; and Ochueja Thankgod, 35.
The police accused the defendants, as well as Hon. Edison Ehie, former factional speaker of the assembly loyal to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, and others, of committing the crime.
According to NAN, Ehie, who represents Ahoada East Constituency, resigned as Rivers Assembly member and minority lawmakers’ speaker in December.
The resignation was reportedly part of an accord negotiated to reconcile Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is currently the FCT Minister.
During the resumed hearing, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, announced Ehie’s appearance and stated that, while his client was not listed as a defendant, he was in court to represent him because his name appeared on almost every count.
Audu Garba, the police attorney, stated that the matter had been scheduled for arraignment and that they were ready for the defendants to enter their pleas at the court’s convenience.
After the charge was read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty on all counts.
“In view of the denial by all the defendants of the allegations leveled against them, we shall be asking for a date for trial to invite our witnesses,” Garba said.
Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, who represented Ezebalike and Oladele (1st and 2nd defendants), informed the court that a bail application was filed on their behalf on Wednesday and that the prosecution had been served.
Terkaa Aondo, representing Kpasa (3rd defendant), said he had equally filed a bail application earlier in the day and that the prosecution had been served.
Responding, Garba said he was just being served today and would need more time to study the applications.
But Fagbemi, who prayed the court to allow his bail application to be taken, said his clients had been in detention since Nov. 4, 2023.
Aondo, while aligning himself with Fagbemi’s plea, said his client was detained since Jan. 5.
They, however, asked for a shorter date should their requests were not granted.
Justice Olajuwon, who refused to grant the plea to take their bail applications, adjourned the matter until Feb. 2 for hearing of the bail application.
The judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre pending the hearing of their bail applications.
NAN, however, observes that Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod (4th and 5th defendants) were not represented in court by any lawyer.
Count one of the charge alleged that Ezebalike, Oladele, kpasa, Honourable Ehie and others now at large, on or about the 29th day of October, 2023, at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers, while acting in concert, conspired together to commit felony.
It alleged that they committed the “act of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties of invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers House of Assembly.
The prosecution said the offence is punishable under Section 26 [1] [a] of the Terrorism [Prevention and Prohibition} Act 2022,” among other counts. (NAN)