A High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies from inviting, arresting, or detaining Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie in connection with the alleged arson at the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The order, issued by Justice I. P. C. Igwe, came after a motion was brought before the court by Ehie, a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Ehie, the claimant had approached the court seeking protection from what he described as harassment and intimidation by security agencies.
The suit, numbered PHC/1113/CS/2025, lists the Inspector-General of Police, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), and the State Director of SSS in Rivers State as defendants.
In its ruling, the court granted Ehie permission to serve court processes on the defendants outside Rivers State, particularly at their offices in Abuja.
Furthermore, the court ordered that these processes be delivered via Red Star Express Courier Service, with proof of delivery filed in court.
The court also issued an order of interim injunction restraining the police and DSS from summoning, arresting, or detaining Ehie in relation to the fire incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 29, 2023.
The injunction further restrains security agencies from taking any actions against Ehie based on statements allegedly made by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of Rivers State, or any other individual.
Justice Igwe directed all parties to maintain the status quo as of March 30, 2025, pending the hearing of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
The court also ordered the claimant to provide an undertaking of ₦2 million to indemnify the defendants if the motion is found to be frivolous.
The substantive motion for an interlocutory injunction has been adjourned for hearing on April 30, 2025.
The ruling comes amid heightened political tensions in Rivers State, with security agencies being accused of taking sides in the ongoing crisis.