The Port Harcourt division of the Rivers State High Court has thrown out a preliminary objection brought before it by the Nigerian Police through its counsel, Celestine Dickson.
In the preliminary objection, Dickson challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the fundamental rights suit brought against the Police by the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Edison Ehie.
In a suit filed by our correspondent on Thursday, said the objection was found to be lacking in merit.
Ruling on the matter, the trial judge, Justice Sika Aprioku maintained the court’s jurisdiction while further holding that the non-joinder of the Nigeria Police Force, does not render the suit incompetent as the Commissioner of Police is already a party to it.
He held that the application by the police was lacking merit and a waste of the court’s time and dismissed it and awarded the cost of one hundred thousand naira in favour of Edison Ehie.
Ruling further on the matter, Justice Aprioku granted Ehie’s prayers as filed by his counsel, Damian Okoro SAN seeking to restrain the police from arresting, detaining, harassing, and or inviting Edison based on the charges in the suit by Martin Amaewhule linked to the destruction of the hallow Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Speaking to newsmen outside the court, counsel to the Police, Celestine Dickson said “That’s the wisdom of the court and you cannot criticize the court however we’ll study the judgment and advise our clients accordingly”
This is coming days after the Rivers State Police Command paraded the remains of cult kingpin, 2Baba over the murder of DPO Bako Angbashim for which Edison is also accused.
