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.

A coalition of Nigerian activists in the United States, under the Democratic Movement (DM), has announced a demonstration at the White House to protest the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.

The coalition is demanding the reversal of the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the restoration of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

A statement on Thursday by Cosmos Collins Achief, president of the group, said the protest aims to draw global attention to what the coalition describes as a “direct assault on democracy and the will of the people.”

“We cannot sit back while an elected governor is removed, an entire legislature is suspended, and an unelected administrator is imposed. These are dangerous precedents that threaten Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

The coalition said the protest will take place in Washington, D.C., with demonstrators marching to the White House and the U.S. Department of State to submit petitions demanding international intervention.

“The world needs to see what is happening in Rivers State. A democratically elected government has been suspended under the guise of emergency rule. We are urging President Donald Trump to engage with Nigerian authorities and call for the immediate restoration of constitutional order,” the statement added.

The pro-democracy movement also called on global leaders, including the United Nations and the African Union, to take notice of what it describes as a blatant attack on democratic governance in Nigeria.

“The president must understand that his actions could lead to serious diplomatic consequences. This move is a step toward dictatorship, and Nigeria risks facing international sanctions if democratic principles are not respected,” Achief warned.

The demonstration is expected to draw the attention of Nigerians in the diaspora, civil rights activists, and supporters of democracy who share concerns about governance in Nigeria.

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Group says Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State was erroneously implicated in security issues that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

The group, in a comprehensive report on the crisis in Rivers, also cleared Fubara of allegations linking him to militant groups responsible for pipeline vandalism and security breaches in the state.

The report, which was made available to journalists in a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, thoroughly debunked claims that Fubara has ties to militant factions, describing the allegations as “politically motivated fabrications” designed to destabilise his administration.

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Group’s investigation revealed no evidence of financial transactions or operational links between the state government and known militant factions.

According to the report, the allegations against Governor Fubara are part of a broader pattern of democratic subversion in Nigeria’s volatile political landscape.

The report points to the role of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in fueling tensions in Rivers State through his inflammatory remarks.

 The Coalition, in the report, recommends the immediate cessation of political hostilities, the withdrawal of security forces unlawfully deployed in Rivers State, and the initiation of independent investigations into allegations of militancy.

The report also notes that communities, where the alleged incidents were reported, have come forward to refute the claims, assuring the public that oil and gas facilities in their areas remain secure and operational.

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Group’s report concludes that the allegations against Governor Fubara appear to be politically motivated fabrications.

The report added: “It is abundantly clear to us, and to the world that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has no verifiable links to militant groups operating within Rivers State, or the Niger Delta at large.

“We are convinced that the allegations against him appear to be politically motivated, fueled by power struggles and deep-seated rivalries rather than grounded in any factual basis.  This report has methodically dismantled the unfounded allegations against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, exposing them as politically motivated fabrications.

“The real instigators of instability in Rivers State are those who prioritize personal vendettas over public welfare. It is, therefore, imperative for all stakeholders, both within Nigeria and in the international community, to recognize the dangerous implications of weaponizing baseless accusations for political expediency.

“The attempt to malign Governor Fubara’s character through such claims is not only an attack on his personal integrity but also an affront to the democratic values that Nigeria professes to uphold.

“Moreover, the reckless statements made by Minister Nyesom Wike, which have exacerbated tensions in the region, must be condemned unequivocally. Public officeholders bear an ethical and constitutional responsibility to foster national unity rather than stoke the flames of discord.

“The people of Rivers State deserve peace, stability, and development—not a manufactured crisis driven by political greed and ambition. As concerned citizens and defenders of democracy, we stand resolute in our support for truth and justice.

“Governor Fubara must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. His exoneration from these baseless allegations and false narratives is not just a defense of his personality, but a defense of democracy itself.

“Governor Fubara has consistently demonstrated his commitment to peace, security, and good governance. His call for the protection of vital oil installations and his transparent governance style stand in stark contrast to the baseless allegations that seek to tarnish his reputation.

“The security challenges in Rivers State are not of his making; rather, they are symptomatic of a broader historical struggle for equity and justice in the Niger Delta. The international community, civil society, and all lovers of democracy must stand strong behind Rivers State to save it from anarchy.”