A JUDICIAL drama appears to be playing out concerning the Rivers State political crisis, as the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has issued a warrant for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the new Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, over his alleged role in the burning of the House of Assembly complex.
This is just as the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt granted an ex-parte order restraining the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies from arresting, detaining and or harassing Ehie.
The Abuja court had ordered the arrest of Ehie, who is the immediate past factional Speaker of the Assembly loyal to Fubara, along with five other persons said to be at large- Jinjiri Bala; Happy Benedict; Progress Joseph; Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter, also known as Rambo- for allegedly participating in some criminal activities.
Justice Nwite granted order while ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), predicated on Sections 37, 113, 114, 84 and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 32 of the Police Act 2020.
In Port Harcourt, the state High Court granted the order stopping the Police from arresting Ehie following a motion ex-parte he filed, seeking to stop the Police from arresting him over his alleged involvement in the burning of the Assembly complex.
Justice Sika Aprioku granted the order before adjourning the matter until February 6 for hearing of the substantive application.
