Alleged Terrorism Charges Against Port Harcourt Men for Attack on Rivers State House of Assembly
The federal government has formally charged four individuals from Port Harcourt with terrorism offenses, accusing them of invading, vandalizing, and setting fire to the Rivers State House of Assembly in the midst of political turmoil last year.
Accused
The accused, believed to be supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Rivers State, have been identified as Chima Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod.
The alleged acts of terrorism occurred during a period of political unrest in Port Harcourt in October of the previous year.
Factional Speaker Implication
Former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie, is implicated in the 7-count terrorism charges but, along with other suspects, is reportedly at large.
Custody and Court Appearance
The four accused individuals are currently held in the custody of the anti-terrorism department at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
They are scheduled to appear in court today at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Charges and Complainant
The charges, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, list the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as the complainant.
In addition to the destruction of the State House of Assembly, some of the accused are implicated in the killing of Superintendent of Police (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants in the Ahoada community of the state.
Involvement of Cult Groups
The accused individuals face charges related to employing various cult groups, including the Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland, and Greenland, to create chaos and disrupt commercial activities in the state.
Prosecution Team and Court Appearance
The prosecution team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Simon Lough, is set to present the case before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon at the Federal High Court in Abuja today.
Formal Charges
The charges specify that on October 29, 2023, at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, the accused individuals allegedly conspired to commit acts of terrorism by willfully destroying public properties, including invading, attacking, destroying, and burning the Rivers State House of Assembly—an offense punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
The formal presentation of charges and the arraignment of the accused individuals are anticipated to take place before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges outline the alleged involvement of the accused in acts of terrorism, emphasizing the destruction of public properties and the disruption of the state’s political and social order.
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