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Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request to dismiss terrorism charges against five loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
The charges were brought against the individuals for allegedly invading, vandalizing, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly in October last year.
The current Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon Edison Ehie, who was also the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, had requested the dismissal of the charges.
However, the judge ruled that Ehie lacked the legal power to request the dismissal and that he must first appear in court to take his plea in the terrorism charges.
Ehie argued that the court in Abuja had no jurisdiction to handle the trial as the alleged offenses were committed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and he had not been indicted by the police for any offense.
The judge dismissed Ehie’s request and agreed with the arguments of the Inspector General of Police, stating that Ehie could only make an application after surrendering himself to the police or appearing in court to take a plea.
The defendants on the charge sheet are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod.
