Federal High Court Sets Aside Arrest Warrant for Governor’s Chief of Staff and Others

A Federal High Court in Abuja has overturned the arrest warrant issued on Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor, and five other associates of the governor. Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the order and that there was no pending charge before the court at the time the warrant was issued.

The warrant, issued on January 31 in response to an ex-parte application brought by the lawyer for the Inspector-General of Police, ordered the arrest of Ehie and five others for their alleged involvement in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly building on October 29, 2023.

Femi Falana, SAN, and Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, representing the defendants, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the order. Falana filed a motion to set aside the order, while Aladedoye applied for a stay of execution of the arrest order.

Falana contended that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction over the alleged offences, which took place in Port Harcourt, the state capital. He also argued that the complainant did not provide evidence of terrorism in support of the application and failed to cite relevant sections of the Terrorism Prevention Act.

Aladedoye sought a stay of execution of the order pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed against Justice Nwite’s orders. He stated that the notice of appeal challenges the jurisdiction of the court and has already been filed.