The alleged terrorism trial of five loyalists of the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara will resume today, March 12, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The five loyalists charged with terrorism offences by the police are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.
A hearing notice issued on Monday by the Court indicates that the trial would be conducted by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon at 9 am.
The hearing notice was served on the five defendants through their respective lawyers.
During the proceedings, the Inspector General of Police through his counsel, Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is expected to call witnesses that will testify against the defendants to establish the charges.
It was also gathered that the defendants may on the date argue their respective motions on notice challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the Court to conduct the trial in Abuja.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, had on January 25 slammed the terrorism charges on them for allegedly invading, vandalizing and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly last year.
They were accused of committing the alleged terrorism offences during the wake of political upheaval that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.
In the charges against them marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, the police alleged that apart from burning down the State House of Assembly, some of them were said to have killed a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants at Ahoada community of the state.
The police informants said to have been killed by the defendants are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.
They are also accused of using various cult groups, namely- Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland and Greenland to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and their commercial activities.
Specifically, they are alleged to have on October 29, 2023, at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt conspired to commit acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an offence punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
The defendants have since been at Kuje Prison in Abuja on remand having been denied bail by the court on account of gravity of the charges against them.
