Court Rejects Bid To Challenge Jurisdiction Orally By Fubara’s Loyalists

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday rejected the bid by the five loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to challenge the territorial jurisdiction of the Court orally.

The five loyalists charged with terrorism offences by Police are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

They had sought orally to attack the territorial jurisdiction of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court on the ground that the alleged offences were committed in Rivers State.

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon rejected the oral application sought to be moved by the counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants, Lukman Fagbemi .

Justice Olajuwon who was taken aback by Fagbemi rejected the move and advised the lawyer to come formally with any motion or application asking the senior lawyer to be diligent in the conduct of proceedings in relation to the case of his clients.

Justice Olajuwon also turned down the request by the defendants to adjourn the case until their proposed application to challenge the territorial jurisdiction of the Court is determined.

The Judge held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015 did not permit granting of such request.

However, the counsel to the 4th and 5th defendants, Adeolu Salako persuaded the Court for an adjournment that was granted.

Salako who appeared for the first time in the trial informed the Court that he had just been engaged and needed time to study the charges against his clients.

Justice Olajuwon agreed with the counsel to shift the trial till another date in the interest of fair hearing and subsequently shifted till March 12 to enable the new lawyer study the charges and for the IGP to open his case against the defendants.

All the defendants were ordered to be returned to Kuje Prison in Abuja to continue their remand having been denied bail due to the nature of charges against them and flaws in their applications for bail.

The IGP had on January 25 slammed terrorism charges on the five Port Harcourt-based men for allegedly invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly last year.

They were alleged to have committed the terrorism offences during the wake of political upheaval that rocked Rivers state in October last year.

By Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji