A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interim order restraining the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), and other security operatives from arresting, detaining, or inviting Mr. Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
Justice I. Igwe, who presided over the case, ruled in favour of Ehie following a motion filed by his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Damian Okoro.
The court specifically barred the named security agencies and their agents from taking any action against Ehie in connection with the alleged arson that took place at the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 29, 2023.
Also listed as defendants in the suit are the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the State Director of SSS in Rivers State, and the SSS itself.
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The court granted permission for all relevant legal documents to be served on the defendants outside its jurisdiction, particularly in Abuja, through substituted means via courier service.
In his ruling, Justice Igwe stated:
“An order of interim injunction is hereby issued restraining the defendants, their agents, servants, assigns, or privies from inviting, arresting, or harassing the claimant in connection with the alleged arson, or any statement made concerning the incident, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The judge further ordered all parties to maintain the status quo as of March 30, 2025, and mandated the claimant to enter an undertaking of N2 million as indemnity should the substantive motion be found to be frivolous.
The case has been adjourned to April 30, 2025, for hearing on the motion for interlocutory injunction.