A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an order, restraining the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State of Security Service, and their agents from inviting, arresting, or detaining Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to suspended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.
Other defendants named in the suit include the State Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, and the State Director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Rivers State.
Persecondnews reported on March 29 that Ehie was implicated in the 2023 bombing of the State House of Assembly complex by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of the Rivers State Civil Service.
Nweke alleged that he personally witnessed Gov. Fubara handing over a bag of money to Ehie, instructing him to orchestrate an attack on the State House of Assembly complex on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
The revelation sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for Ehie’s immediate arrest and interrogation over his alleged role in the Rivers State crisis.
Reacting to the calls for his arrest, Ehie took proactive measures and approached the State High Court, securing a restraining order against security agencies, including the police and DSS.
Justice I. Igwe, in his ruling on Thursday, said: “After hearing Damian Okoro, SAN, counsel for the claimant and no appearance for the defendants, it is hereby ordered ad follows:
“That leave be and is hereby granted to the claimant to issue and serve the writ of summons and all other relevant processes in this suit for service on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th defendants out of jurisdiction of this court and in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory through their respective addresses as stated in the motion paper.
“That the writ and its accompanying processes shall in line with Section 98 of the Sheriffs and Civil Procedures Act be marked as a concurrent writ for service out of jurisdiction in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
“That it is further ordered that leave be and is hereby also granted to the claimant to serve the writ of summons and all other relevant processes in this suit on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th defendants by substituted means to wit: by post through Red Star Express Courier service to the said 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th defendants’ addresses at Abuja in their respective addresses as stated in the motion papers and filing in court evidence of such post and delivery of the said processes.
“That an order of interim injunction be and is hereby issued restraining the defendants by themselves or by their agents, servants, assigns, privies or whosoever from further inviting, demanding the appearance of the claimant at their respective offices in Abuja or anywhere else or harassing, intimidating, arresting or detaining the claimant in connection with the alleged arson on the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly which occurred on March 29, 2023, on account of the statement made on or about March 27, 2025, or thereafter or however, by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the Government of Rivers State or on account of any statement made by anyone whosoever, wheresoever or when so ever, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
“That both parties are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante litem as at March 30, 2025, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The judge further held: “That the claimant shall enter into an undertaking in the sum of N2 million only, to indemnify the defendants if the substantive motion turns out to be frivolous.
“That the substantive case is adjourned to April 30, 2025, for the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
Prior to obtaining the restraining order, Ehie on March 31 rejected Nwaeke’s allegations as “false” and “politically motivated”.
He said: “It is very important to clarify that I had no hand and was not part of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Like everyone else, I woke up in the early hours of 30th of October 2023 to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“I will not join issues completely with Mr. George Nwaeke because I have already instructed my lawyers to file an issue of criminal libel against him, and I hope he is very prepared to substantiate his claims and his allegations.”
He further alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the very same day he resigned as the Head of Service.
Persecondnews had reported that the State House of Assembly Complex was demolished on December 13, 2023.
The complex was demolished under tight security approximately two months after a devastating fire had ravaged the facility.
The demolition exercise commenced at about 6:45am, allegedly led by the state governor, who headed a convoy of around 10 bulldozers transported on heavy-duty flatbed lorries into the Assembly premises.
Reacting to the demolition, the Rivers State Government explained that the renovation of the State House of Assembly Complex was undertaken based on the advice of consultants, who had deemed the building uninhabitable.
The government explained that the decision to demolish and restructure the building was prompted by the recent fire that ravaged the chamber and the need to reinforce the aging complex.
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