A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the bail sought by five persons suspected to have participated in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
The suspects, who are believed to be loyalists of Governor Fubara, are Chima Eguma Ezebalike, Princess Lukman Oadele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon on Monday held that their application lacked merit, noting that the applicants failed to present special circumstances to warrant the bail application by their counsel, Lukmon Fagbemi (SAN).
The suspects were on January 25, remanded in the Kuje prison in FCT after they were arraigned on terrorism-related offences.
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But Olajuwon held that the defendants, especially Ezebalike and Oladele, failed to give cogent and verifiable evidence to back up their request for bail.
Consequently, the judge ordered that the defendants remain in the correctional centre in Kuje while she granted accelerated hearing in the matter.
Recall that the federal government in a seven-count charge accused the suspects of committing terrorism offences by invading, vandalising and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt with dynamite, iron rods, lighters and other weapons in October last year.
The prosecution noted that the offences breached Section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and Section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The case has been adjourned to February 8.
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