Justice Sika Aprioku of the high court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an ex-parte order restraining the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from arresting, detaining, and or harassing Edison Ehie.
The order which was granted following a motion ex-parte filed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor had sought to stop the police from arresting him over his alleged involvement in the burning of the Hallowed Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly last year.
Justice Aprioku upon hearing lawyer to the applicant, D. O. Okoro, SAN granted the order before adjourning the matter to the 6th of February for hearing of the substantive application.
The applicant had in a Fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit marked PHC/227/FHR/2024 brought pursuant to section 6 (6) (8) of the Constitution sued the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command.
The order reads “That an order of interim injunction be and is hereby granted restraining the Respondents and their subordinates, agents, privies, proxies and representatives from taking further steps in connection with the subject Matter of this act on of Maintaining the status quo or staying alt actions, especially to arrest, threaten to arrest, whisk away, detain or howsoever infringe on the Fundamental Rights of the Applicant over the matters Complained of or being challenged in this action pending the determination of the Originating application
“That leave be and is hereby granted the Applicant to serve the originating Processes and all other Subsequent processes in this suit on the Respondents vide the Office of the O/C Legal, State C. I. D, Port Harcourt and for such Service to be deemed proper service.
“That this case is adjourned to 06/02/2024 for hearing of the substantive suit”.
“That leave be and is hereby granted the Applicant to serve the originating Processes and all other Subsequent processes in this suit on the Respondents vide the Office of the O/C Legal, State C. I. D, Port Harcourt and for such Service to be deemed proper service.
At the height of the political crisis in the state, the Martin Amaewhule-led group had petitioned the police demanding that Ehie be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted over allegations of his involvement in the suspected arson at the House of Assembly Complex.
