New Trial Date Set For Five Fubara Loyalists Over Rivers Assembly Fire

New Trial Date Set For Five Fubara Loyalists Over Rivers Assembly Fire

In a significant legal development, a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed a new trial date for five individuals suspected of involvement in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex….READ MORE Rivers State Governor Fubara Issues Stern Warning To Detractors Threatening State Economy

The accused, believed to be loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, will face trial on March 12.

The suspects, identified as Chima Eguma Ezebalike, Princess Lukman Oadele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod, appeared before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, who presided over the proceedings.

Despite a request for bail and a challenge to the court’s jurisdiction, Justice Olajuwon declined to entertain fresh oral applications, leading to the adjournment of the trial.

Prosecution counsel Simon Lough (SAN) sought to commence the trial by calling a witness, while defence counsel Lukman Fagbemi (SAN) requested bail orally and sought to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.

Another defence counsel, Adeola Salako Esq, requested an adjournment to study the charges, which the court granted.

The five suspects were remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Kuje, on January 25, after being arraigned on terrorism-related offences. Despite their plea of not guilty, their application for bail was denied on February 5 due to insufficient evidence supporting medical reasons.

The prosecution alleges that the offences violate the provisions of Section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and Section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

As the legal process unfolds, the fate of the accused and the implications of the charges remain subjects of intense scrutiny and debate.