By Taiye Agbaje
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, fixed Feb. 5 for ruling on bail applications filed by five suspected persons accused of burning down part of the Rivers House of Assembly on Dec. 29, 2023.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon fixed the date after lawyers to the prosecution and that of the defence adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the bail plea.
Justice Olajuwon also dismissed the application filed by Chime Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele, who are 1st and 2nd defendants, challenging the competence of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police to institute a terrorism charge against them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) earlier reported that the judge struck out an application filed by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, seeking an order to strike out the charge against him and others for want of jurisdiction.
She also struck out the CoS’ prayer for an order striking out his name anywhere it might have appeared in the charge sheet marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024.
Olajuwon, in a short ruling, held that Ehie, having not been joined as a defendant in the charge lacked the legal right to make such plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ehie, who was recently appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional speaker of the assembly, was alleged to be among the suspects charged by the I-G for burning down the Rivers House of Assembly.
NAN reports that five suspected arsonists of the Rivers assembly were, on Jan. 25, arraigned before Justice Olajuwon on seven-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism, among others.
Ehie, whose name was mentioned in the charge, was alleged to be at large with five other suspects.
The five suspected arsonists (defendants) arraigned are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge and were ordered to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.(NAN)
