Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has failed to dismiss the terrorism offences charges against the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor Edison Ehie.
He further explained that Ehie who was the then Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly lacked legal powers to request for dismissal of the charges.
He upheld the submission of the counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Simon Lough, that Ehie was not yet competent to make any application until he appears in court to take his plea in the terrorism charges.
Ehie through his lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, had applied that the criminal charges against him and others be dropped on various grounds.
He claimed that the Federal High Court in Abuja has no jurisdiction to entertain the trial because the alleged offences were committed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He also claimed that he had not been indicted by the police for any offence.
His request was however opposed on the ground that Ehie had not yet appeared before the court to take his plea.
The counsel for the police cited section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015.
In a brief ruling, Justice Olajuwon dismissed the request of the former Speaker and upheld the arguments of the Inspector General of Police.
