The court has ordered the arrest of Fubara’s Chief of Staff and several others in connection with the assembly explosion.

On Wednesday, 31st January 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order for the arrest of Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, due to his suspected participation in the State House of Assembly fire.

The court also issued an order for the arrest of Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, also known as Rambo, on suspicion of engaging in various illegal acts.

On October 30, 2023, a blast occurred within the state assembly complex, following reports that certain legislators were planning to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office.

It was claimed that a few of the governor’s supporters were responsible for the incident.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja remanded Chime Ezebalike, Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod on a related case last Thursday, 25th January 2024.

As part of the political unrest that shook Port Harcourt in October of last year, they were charged with seven counts of terrorism after breaking into, damaging, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Despite being named frequently during the case, Ehie was not included on the list of defendants. The prosecution was the cops.

Nonetheless, Ehie and five other people were named as defendants in an ex-parte application filed by the Inspector General of Police.

Sections 37, 113, 114, 84, and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, and Section 32 of the Police Act 2020 served as the foundation for the ex-parte application.

The defendants were charged in the ex-parte application with conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder, and the murder of Bako Agbashim, a superintendent of police, as well as five other police informants.

A warrant for the defendant’s arrest was issued by trial judge Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday, 31st January 2024, in response to a new application.

The judge ruled, “That the complainant’s application, dated and filed on January 29, 2024, is granted in accordance with the prayer.” 

“That a warrant for the arrest of evading defendants in the case, Ehie, Bala, Benneth, Joseph, Oyagiri, and Chibuike (also known as Rambo), is now issued by this Honorable Court.”

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