JUST IN: Court declines dismissal of terrorism charges against Fubara’s CoS, Edison Ehie
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to dismiss terrorist allegations filed against five Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara allies.
On Friday, the judge denied to dismiss the allegations, as asked by Hon Edison Ehie, the governor’s current Chief of Staff.
The court ruled that Ehie, the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, lacked the legal authority to seek dismissal of the charges.
Olajuwon upheld the counsel’s statement to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, that Ehie was not yet competent to make any application until he appeared in court to enter a plea to the terrorism allegations.
Ehie, through his counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye SAN, had requested that the criminal charges against him and others be withdrawn on a variety of grounds.
He stated that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacks jurisdiction to hear the trial because the alleged crimes were committed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He also claimed that the police had not indicted him for any offense.
The request, however, was strongly contested on the grounds that Ehie had not yet appeared in court to enter his plea.
The police lawyer referenced Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 (ACJA).
In a quick verdict, Olajuwon denied the former Speaker’s motion and maintained the IGP’s reasons.
The Judge stated that the charge sheet simply showed that Ehie is at large and has not yet been put on the charge, as required by law.
He advised the Chief of Staff to either surrender to police or appear in court to enter a plea before filing any applications.
The charging sheet names five defendants: Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod.
The defendants were charged with seven counts of terrorism for allegedly invading, vandalizing, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly following the political turmoil that shook Port Harcourt in October last year.