The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the remand of five men arraigned on a seven-count criminal charge bordering on terrorism and murder.
Presiding Justice Bolaji Olajuwon ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Kuje prison until their respective bail applications are determined by the judge on February 2, 2024.
The five suspects, identified as Ochueja Thankgod, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Prince Lukman Oladele, and Osiga Donald were apprehended for allegedly invading, vandalising, and razing the Rivers State House of Assembly building on October 29, 2023.
The five defendants pleaded not guilty to the 7-count charge of terrorism offenses.
The charges partly read:
“That you, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism by willful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
“That you Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert and armed with dynamite, iron rods, lighters and other offensive weapons willfully and maliciously invaded, attacked and set fire on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
The Federal Government accused the suspects, who are alleged to be Rivers state Governor Fubara’s loyalists, of conniving with cult groups to instill fear and cause unrest in the state.
