A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has prevented the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services from detaining or summoning Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended state governor, on claims made by the former Rivers Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
Justice I.P.C. Igwe issued the verdict in Suit No: PHC/1113/CS/2025, filed by Ehie against the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the Director-General of the DSS, the Rivers State DSS Director, and the DSS.
In the ruling on Thursday, Justice Igwe ordered, “That an order of interim injunction be and is hereby issued restraining the Defendants by selves or by their agents, servants, assigns, privies or whosoever from further inviting, demanding 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 October, 2023 on account of statement made on or about 27th March, 2025 or thereafter or however by Dr. George Nwaeke, former Head of Service of the Government of Rivers State or on account of any statement made by anyone whosoever, wheresoever or when soever pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The court also granted permission for Ehie to serve legal documents to the police and DSS offices in Abuja, stating, “That leave be and is hereby granted to the Claimants to issue and serve the Writ of Summons and all other relevant processes in this suit for service on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th Defendants out of jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory through their respective addresses as stated in the motion paper, namely: 1st and 3rd Defendants: Louis Edet House, Area II, Garki, Abuja. 4th Defendant: Through the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja, FCT. 6th and 7th Defendants: National Headquarters, Yellow House, Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja.”
The judge further ruled, “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.”
To ensure the legal documents reach the necessary parties, the court allowed service via courier, “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 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th Defendants by substituted means to wit: by post through Red Star Express Courier Service to the said 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th 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 directed both parties to maintain the current state of affairs, ruling: “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.”
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As part of the ruling, Ehie was required to provide a financial guarantee, “That the Claimant shall enter into an undertaking in the sum of N2 million only, to indemnify the Defendants if the substantive motion turns out to be frivolous.”
The case was adjourned to April 30, 2025, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.
