Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined the request to dismiss the terrorism charges against five loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
The Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon Edison Ehie, had requested the termination of the charges, but the court ruled that Ehie lacked the legal authority to make such a request.
The court upheld the submission of the counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Simon Lough, who argued that Ehie could not make any application until he appeared in court to take his plea in the terrorism charges.
Ehie’s lawyer had applied for the charges to be dropped on various grounds, including lack of jurisdiction and absence of police indictment.
However, the court dismissed the request, stating that Ehie needed to either surrender himself to the police or appear in court to take a plea before making any application.
The defendants on the charge sheet are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod, who are accused of committing terrorism offenses by invading and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly.
