RSHA Bombing: Court stops Fubara’s CoS arrest

A court in Rivers State has stepped in to protect Mr. Edison Ehie from any actions that might lead to his arrest or detention.

The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued an order barring the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), and their agents from taking any further action against Ehie related to the ongoing investigations.

Ehie, Chief of Staff to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, was implicated in the bombing and arson attack on the Rivers State House of Assembly, which led to the complex being demolished on the orders, allegedly, of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service for Rivers State, in two television interviews made some damning allegations against Ehie, leading the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) to invite him for questioning.

The court order also applies to other defendants in the case, including the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the State Director of the SSS in Rivers State, and the SSS itself.

Justice I. Igwe, the trial judge, issued the ruling after hearing arguments from Damian Okoro, SAN, representing the claimant, while the defendants did not appear in court. The key points of the ruling are as follows:

• The claimant has been granted permission to serve the writ of summons and other legal documents on the first, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh defendants outside the court’s jurisdiction in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, through their listed addresses as stated in the motion paper.
• The writ and accompanying documents will be treated as a concurrent writ for service in Abuja, in accordance with Section 98 of the Sheriffs and Civil Procedures Act. The claimant is also authorized to serve these documents by alternative means, such as posting them through Red Star Express Courier to the defendants’ Abuja addresses. Proof of delivery must be filed in court.
• The court has issued an interim injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, or anyone acting on their behalf from summoning, demanding the claimant’s appearance, or detaining him in connection with the alleged arson incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 29, 2023. This also applies to any statements made by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of Rivers State, or others, until the court hears the motion for a permanent injunction.
• Both parties have been ordered to maintain the status quo as it stood on March 30, 2025, pending the hearing of the motion.
• The claimant must provide a bond of N2 million as security to indemnify the defendants if the case is found to be without merit.
• The case has been adjourned to April 30, 2025, for further proceedings on the motion for interlocutory injunction.