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A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing on an application to set aside the arrest warrant against the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Edison Ehie, and five others.
The arrest warrant had been issued following their alleged involvement in the burning of the state’s House of Assembly.
The police had accused the defendants of committing terrorism offenses by invading, vandalizing, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly in October 2023. The charges also include the alleged murder of a Superintendent of Police, SP Bako Agbashim, and five police informants.
However, the defendants’ counsel, Femi Falana (SAN) and Oluwole Aladedoye, filed separate applications asking the court to set aside the arrest warrant and restrain the police from carrying out the order pending the determination of the case.
At the resumed hearing, the IGP’s lawyer, Simon Lough, expressed unawareness of the defendants’ motion, but the judge, Nwite, noted that the motion had been served. Lough then pleaded for time to react to the defendants’ applications.
The judge subsequently adjourned the hearing till March 4 to allow for the hearing of the application.
It should be noted that Justice Emeka Nwite had issued the bench warrant on January 31, 2024, following an ex-parte application by the Inspector General of Police. The warrant was based on various legal provisions, including Sections 37, 113, 114, 84, and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 32 of the Police Act 2020.
Recall that the fire outbreak at the Rivers State House of Assembly happened late last year 2023.
