On Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled a hearing on bail applications submitted by five suspected suspects accused of burning down a portion of the Rivers House of Assembly on December 29, 2023, for February 5.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon set the date after the prosecution and defense counsel completed their processes and submitted their arguments in support and opposition to the bail application, respectively.
Justice Olajuwon also dismissed the application brought by the first and second defendants, Chime Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele, contesting the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police’s competence to charge them with terrorism.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) previously reported that the judge dismissed an appeal submitted by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, seeking an order to dismiss the accusation against him and others for lack of jurisdiction.
She also denied the CoS’s request for an order to remove his name from all appearances on the charge sheet labeled FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024.
Olajuwon ruled in a brief decision that Ehie lacked the legal right to enter such a plea since she had not been joined as a defendant in the case.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ehie, who was recently appointed CoS after resigning as a member and factional speaker of the house, was one of the suspects charged by the I-G with burning down the Rivers House of house.
According to NAN, five suspected arsonists from the Rivers Assembly were hauled before Justice Olajuwon on Jan. 25 on a seven-count allegation that included alleged terrorism.
Ehie, whose name included in the accusation, was said to be at large alongside five other suspects.
The five suspected arsonists (defendants) charged are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod.
They pled not guilty to the seven-count charge and were ordered to remain at Kuje Correctional Centre until the hearing and decision on their bail petitions.
(NAN)