A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the Inspector General of Police to prosecute them on terrorism-related offenses.
The defendants Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod, who are loyalists of the Rivers state governor, Simialayi Fubara, are standing trial on terrorism-related charges and alleged murder.
The IGP had instituted the charges against them following their alleged role in the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly in October 2023.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, in a ruling on their preliminary objections on Friday, held that the defendants were wrong in their claims that only the AGF can put them on trial, while the defendants pleaded not guilty.
“From the cursory look at all the authorities cited by lawyers for and against the IGP rights to initiate the instant criminal proceedings, one thing is clear too, that police can rightly initiate criminal charges including terrorism charges”.
Join our twitter community :