Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an appeal to drop terrorism charges against five followers of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The plea to terminate the charges was made by Edison Ehie, the current Chief of Staff to the governor.
Ehie, who also served as the factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, sought the dismissal of charges related to the burning of the state House of Assembly. However, the court ruled against him, stating that he lacked the legal authority to request the charges’ dismissal.
The judge, Justice Olajuwon, upheld the arguments presented by the Inspector General of Police’s counsel, Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Lough asserted that Ehie could not make any application until he appeared in court to enter his plea in response to the terrorism charges.
Ehie, represented by his lawyer Oluwole Aladedoye SAN, argued that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction over the trial, as the alleged offenses occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He also claimed that the police had not formally charged him for any offense.
However, the court rejected Ehie’s request, emphasizing that he had not appeared before the court to enter his plea. The police lawyer cited Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015 in opposing the request.
In a concise ruling, Justice Olajuwon advised the Chief of Staff to either surrender himself to the police or appear in court to enter a plea before being eligible to make any further applications. The judge noted that the charge sheet indicated that Ehie was at large and had not been listed on the charge as required by law.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an appeal to drop terrorism charges against five followers of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The plea to terminate the charges was made by Edison Ehie, the current Chief of Staff to the governor.
Ehie, who also served as the factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, sought the dismissal of charges related to the burning of the state House of Assembly. However, the court ruled against him, stating that he lacked the legal authority to request the charges’ dismissal.
The judge, Justice Olajuwon, upheld the arguments presented by the Inspector General of Police’s counsel, Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Lough asserted that Ehie could not make any application until he appeared in court to enter his plea in response to the terrorism charges.
Ehie, represented by his lawyer Oluwole Aladedoye SAN, argued that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction over the trial, as the alleged offenses occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He also claimed that the police had not formally charged him for any offense.
However, the court rejected Ehie’s request, emphasizing that he had not appeared before the court to enter his plea. The police lawyer cited Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015 in opposing the request.
In a concise ruling, Justice Olajuwon advised the Chief of Staff to either surrender himself to the police or appear in court to enter a plea before being eligible to make any further applications. The judge noted that the charge sheet indicated that Ehie was at large and had not been listed on the charge as required by law.
