A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued a ruling on Wednesday, barring the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), and their agents from arresting, inviting, or detaining Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The order also applies to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, and the State Director of SSS in Rivers State, all named as defendants in the case.

Justice I. Igwe delivered the ruling after hearing arguments from Damian Okoro, SAN, counsel for Ehie, with no representation from the defendants. The court granted Ehie permission to serve legal documents to the defendants outside the court’s jurisdiction, specifically in Abuja, via Red Star Express Courier Service. The judge also issued an interim injunction preventing the defendants and their associates from further actions against Ehie related to an alleged arson at the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 29, 2023, or statements made by Dr. George Nwaeke, former Head of Service, around March 27, 2025, or by anyone else thereafter. This restriction holds pending the hearing of a motion for an interlocutory injunction.

The court further mandated both parties to maintain the status quo as it existed on March 30, 2025, until the motion is heard. Ehie was required to provide an undertaking of N2 million to compensate the defendants if the case is later deemed frivolous. The substantive matter was adjourned to April 30, 2025, for further proceedings.