Federal government has pressed terrorism charges against four individuals from Port Harcourt accused of invading, vandalizing, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly last year.
The accused, believed to be loyalists of Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State, allegedly committed these acts during the political upheaval that shook Port Harcourt in October.
The individuals facing these charges are Chima Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod. Notably, the immediate past factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie, has been named in the 7-count terrorism charges but is reportedly at large, along with other suspects.
Currently held in the custody of the anti-terrorism department at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the four suspects are set to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja today.
According to the charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 and obtained by our correspondent, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, is named as the complainant. The allegations against the accused include not only burning down the State House of Assembly but also involvement in the killing of a Superintendent of Police, Bako Agbashim, and five police informants in the Ahoada community of the state.
The police informants identified as Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu, and Saturday Edi were reportedly killed by some of the accused. Additionally, they are accused of utilizing various cult groups, namely Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland, and Greenland, to unleash violence on the people of the state and disrupt commercial activities.
To lead the prosecution team before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Simon Lough, has been assigned.
Specifically, the accused are alleged to have conspired to commit acts of terrorism by willfully destroying public properties, including invading, attacking, destroying, and burning the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 29, 2023. Such actions are punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022. The unfolding legal proceedings will shed light on the complexities surrounding this alleged act of terrorism.
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