His resignation is said to be part of the agreements to reconcile Fubara and Wike.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, agreed with the CoS’ counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, and Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, who appeared for Ehie’s co-defendants, that the court lacked jurisdiction to have granted the order.
Justice Nwite held that at the time the arrest warrant order was made, there was no pending charge before the court. He, consequently, vacated the warrant issued for the police to effect Ehie and five others’ arrest.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge had, on January 31, issued a warrant for the arrest of Ehie over his alleged involvement in the burning of part of the state’s House of Assembly on October 29, 2023.
Those ordered to be arrested along with Ehie are; Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benneth, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo. Justice Nwite gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police’s lawyer, Simon Lough, SAN.
He granted the ex-parte application as canvassed by Lough because the six defendants had been at large to stand their trial in a seven-count preferred against five other suspected arsonists currently being prosecuted before a sister court presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon.
But Falana and Aladedoye filed separate motions on behalf of their clients Falana filed a motion seeking an order to set aside the January 31 order made by Justice White.
Aladedoye applied for a stay of execution of the arrest order in a motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/112/2024 dated February 2 and filed February 7 by Falana, Ehie sought two orders, including “an order setting aside the order made on January 31 for want of jurisdiction.
“An order of this honourable court staying the execution of the order made on the 31 January 2024, pending the hearing and determination of this application.”
Giving six grounds of argument, Falana argued that the I-G (complainant) had not filed any criminal charge or motion before the court.
Peoplesmind