Court Sustains IGP’S Terrorism Charges Against Five Rivers Assembly Attack Suspects
THE Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, dismissed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the terrorism- related charge instituted by the Inspector- General of Police ( IGP) against suspects behind the arson attack on the Rivers State House of Assembly in October 2023. The defendants in the suit are, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod, who were on Thursday, arraigned on seven- count charge before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
They were accused of joining forces with a lawmaker, Edison Ehie, and others, now at large, to wreak havoc on the state assembly.
The charges read in part, “That you, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, businessman of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Edison Ehie and others now at large on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism by willful destruction of public property by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26 ( 1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
“That you Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, businessman of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Edison Ehie and others now at large on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert and armed with dynamite, iron rods, lighters and other offensive weapons willfully and maliciously invaded, attacked and set fire on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”