This development comes in the wake of conflicting judicial decisions, as the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt concurrently granted an ex-parte order preventing the police from apprehending Ehie.

The warrant, initiated by an application from the Inspector General of Police, implicates Ehie who is the immediate past Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, and five others in charges ranging from conspiracy to arson, terrorism, attempted murder, and murder of a police superintendent and informants.

Those ordered to be arrested along with the former Speaker are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.

The allegations stem from the destruction of the House of Assembly and the tragic loss of life during the political unrest in Port Harcourt last October.

The arrest order issued by Justice Nwite, on Wednesday rooted in sections 37, 113, 114, 84 and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and section 35 of the 1999 Constitution as well as 32 of the Police Act 2020 which reflects the gravity of the charges leveled against Ehie and his co-accused.

In the ex-parte application argued by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough, the six defendants were said to be at large.

The DCP who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, submitted that the defendants are involved in conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder and murder of a Superintendent of Police SP Bako Agbashim and five other police informants.

The five police informants they are alleged to have killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.

Justice Nwite granted the request of the IGP to declare the defendants wanted and upon their arrest and investigation, bring them before the court for trial.

The IGP had two weeks ago put five Port Harcourt-based person’s on trial on terrorism charges and were remanded at Kuje Prison upon their arraignment.

They were ordered to remain in prison custody till February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined by another Judge, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon.

The five defendants are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

In the 7-count charges, the defendants were accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly during the wake of political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.

Justice Olajuwon ordered their remand at the Kuje Prison.

However, the legal landscape is further complicated by the countermanding order from the Rivers State High Court, halting any attempts by law enforcement to detain Ehie.

In response to the arrest warrant, Ehie’s legal team swiftly sought relief from the Rivers State High Court, petitioning for protection against potential arrest and prosecution. Presiding Judge Sika Aprioku granted the motion ex-parte filed by Ehie’s legal representatives, effectively forestalling any police action pending a substantive hearing on the matter scheduled for February 6.