Court orders arrest of Fubara’s Chief of Staff

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant against the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Edison Ehie, over the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.

Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday also ordered the arrest, investigation and trial of Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, also known as Rambo.

The order followed an ex parte application by the Inspector General of Police against the erstwhile factional speaker of the state assembly and the other suspects.

The application, which was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Simon Lough, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, was hinged on sections 37, 113, 114, 84, and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Section 35 of the Nigerian Constitution and 32 of the Police Act, 2020.

The IGP accused the defendants, said to be at large, of the offences of conspiracy, arson, terrorism, and murder of a Superintendent of Police, Bako Agbashim and five other police informants.

The five police informants in the Ahoada community of the state, who were identified as Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.