THE Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, has issued an order restraining the police, the Department of Security Services (DSS), security services and others from arresting Edison Ehie, the suspended Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The court presided over by Justice IPC Igwe issued the order in a a motion brought before it by Ehie, who is the claimant/applicant.
Others included in the suit as defendants/respondents are the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the DSS; the state Director, DSS and the Police Service Commission (PSC).
The judge said: “That an order of interim injunction be and is hereby issued restraining the defendants by themselves or by their agents, servants, assigns, privies or whosoever from further inviting, demanding the appearance of the claimant at their respective offices in Abuja or anywhere else or harassing, intimidating, arresting or detaining the claimant in connection with the alleged arson on the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly which occurred on 29th March, 2023 on account of the statement made on or about 27th March, 2025 or thereafter or however by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the Government of Rivers State or on account of any statement made by anyone whosoever.
“That the writ and its accompanying processes.shall in line with Section 98 of the Sheriffs and Civil Procedures Act be marked as a concurrent writ for service out of jurisdiction in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
That It is further ordered that leave be and is hereby also granted to the claimant to serve the Writ of Summons and all other relevant processes in this suit on the 1,3d, 4, 5th and 7th defendants by substituted means to wit: by post through Red Star Express Courier Service to the said 1, 30, 4″, 5 and 7 Defendants’ Addresses at Abuja in their respective addresses as stated in the motion papers and filing in Court evidence of such post and delivery of
the said processes”.
The court also asked all the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination the motion on notice.
The judge said: That both parties are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante litem as at 30″ March, 2025 pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory Injunction.
“That the claimant shall enter into an undertaking in the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) only, to indemnify the defendants if the substantive motion turn out to be frivolous”.
The judge adjourned the substantive case to the 30th day of April, 2025 for the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction.
