A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an interim injunction preventing the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), and other security agencies from arresting, inviting, or detaining Mr. Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The ruling, delivered by Justice I. Igwe, restrains not only the heads of these security agencies but also their subordinates, agents, and representatives from taking any action against Ehie in relation to allegations of arson at the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 29, 2023.
The court order also applies to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, and the Rivers State Director of the SSS. The judge ruled that Ehie should not be invited or pressured to appear before any of these authorities until the case is fully heard.
In his ruling, Justice Igwe granted permission for court documents to be served on the defendants outside the Rivers State jurisdiction. The judge stated that the legal papers, including the writ of summons, should be sent to the affected officials at their respective addresses in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
“To ensure proper service, the documents will be sent via Red Star Express Courier service to the defendants’ addresses in Abuja,” the court noted. The ruling further directed that evidence of this delivery should be filed in court.
Justice Igwe also issued an interim injunction instructing all parties to maintain the status quo as of March 30, 2025. The ruling specifically prohibits security agencies from harassing, arresting, or detaining Ehie over any statements allegedly made regarding the arson incident.
Additionally, the court ordered Ehie to provide a financial undertaking of N2 million as a guarantee in case the case is deemed baseless.
The case has been adjourned until April 30, 2025, for a hearing on the motion for an interlocutory injunction. Until then, the security agencies are barred from taking any action against Ehie.
