The Chief of Staff filed an application for an order of injunction against suspended Rivers State Governor Edison Ehie, and the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has scheduled the hearing for June 15, 2025.
The motion is directed against the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Police, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police of Rivers State.
Under the direction of Justice I.P.C. Igwe, the court also set the same date for the hearing of a related motion against the same defendants that had been brought by Chijioke Ihunwo, the former chairman of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.
Ehie and Ihunwo are each requesting five declarations from the court in their individual lawsuits. This includes a directive prohibiting the Nigerian Police and DSS from inviting, intimidating, detaining, or arresting them in relation to the October 29, 2023, arson assault at the Rivers State House of Assembly.
George Nweke, the former Head of Service, issued a statement on March 27, 2025, which is the basis for the motion. Both plaintiffs’ legal teams contend that the DSS and police lack the legal right to harass, detain, or arrest their clients in connection with the alleged incident.
Ehie’s legal team argues that a previous ruling by Justice Sika Aprioku of a Rivers State High Court, which favored their client, has not been overturned by any appellate court.
They contend that the ruling remains binding, and the defendants do not have the legal right to take any further actions against Ehie in relation to the case.
The legal team is also requesting that the court prevent the police and DSS from declaring Ehie wanted or compelling him to appear at their Abuja office.
They are further seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent any future action that could lead to his arrest or detention.
When the matter was heard on Wednesday, the counsel for the Nigerian Police, Dickson Celestine, informed the court that he had only recently received the case file within the past 24 hours. He requested additional time to study the documents and file a response to the suit.
When the matter was heard on Wednesday, the counsel for the Nigerian Police, Dickson Celestine, informed the court that he had only recently acquired the case file within the past 24 hours. He wanted further time to analyze the documents and draft a response to the claim.
Demain Okoro (SAN), the plaintiff’s attorney, did not raise any objections to the request for additional time.
Justice I.P.C. Igwe gave the proposal some thought and postponed the case until June 15, 2025, so that the motion for a perpetual injunction may be heard. This lays the groundwork for the subsequent phase of the current legal dispute concerning the alleged arson and the conduct of the DSS and Nigerian Police.
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