Federal High Court Rejects Governor Fubara’s Chief of Staff’s Plea to Dismiss Terrorism Charges

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected the plea to dismiss terrorism charges against five individuals closely associated with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. The charges were brought in connection with the alleged invasion, vandalism, and arson at the Rivers State House of Assembly during the political turmoil in Port Harcourt last October.

The court’s decision came as Chief of Staff to the governor, Edison Ehie, sought the dismissal of the charges. However, Justice Olajuwon asserted that Ehie, who was also the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, lacked the legal authority to request such dismissal.

The Judge upheld the argument presented by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, contending that Ehie had not yet reached the stage where he could make such an application. According to the court, Ehie needed to appear in court to take his plea in the terrorism charges before seeking dismissal.

Ehie, represented by his lawyer Oluwole Aladedoye SAN, had raised several grounds for dropping the charges, including questioning the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja, stating that the alleged offenses occurred in Port Harcourt. He also claimed that he had not been formally indicted by the police.

However, the court dismissed these arguments, emphasizing that Ehie needed to either surrender himself to the police or appear in court to take a plea before being eligible to make any application.

The charges involve five defendants – Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod. They face seven counts related to alleged terrorism offenses stemming from the events surrounding the political crisis in Port Harcourt last year.

Justice Olajuwon highlighted that the charge sheet only indicated that Ehie is at large and not yet listed on the charges, as required by law. The court’s ruling makes it clear that Ehie’s legal standing to seek dismissal hinges on first addressing the charges in court.