The Federal High Court in Abuja has overturned its previous decision to arrest Rt. Hon. Ehie Edison, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State, in connection with the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court had initially issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ehie and five others following an ex-parte application by the Inspector General of Police. The application was based on various legal provisions, including sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the 1999 Constitution, as well as the Police Act 2020.
The charges against the defendants included alleged terrorism, attempted murder, and murder of a Superintendent of Police and five police informants during the political crisis in Port Harcourt in October 2023.
However, Ehie’s legal team, led by Femi Falana (SAN) and Oluwole Aladedoye, challenged the arrest warrant and sought its reversal. They argued that the police failed to provide sufficient evidence of terrorism and did not specify the alleged contravention of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.
Furthermore, they highlighted the filing of a notice of appeal against the court’s orders, emphasizing the need to restrain the police pending the determination of the case.
In a judgment delivered today, Justice Emeka Nwite acknowledged that the court had been misled by the police. Consequently, the earlier order for the arrest of Ehie Edison and others was set aside, providing a significant relief for the defendants.
This development marks a crucial victory for Ehie and underscores the importance of due process in legal proceedings. As the case continues to unfold, it raises pertinent questions about the handling of criminal charges and the safeguarding of individuals’ rights within the justice system.
