The trial of five suspects arrested in connection with the burning of the Rivers House of Assembly on December 29, 2023, could not proceed on Tuesday at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon adjourned the trial until March 19 following information by counsel to two defendants, Lukman Fagbemi, that the prosecution filed a counter-affidavit raising serious allegations against his clients.

Mr Fagbemi told the court that he had filed a motion on notice, challenging the charge’s competence and the court’s territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter.

He told the court that though the inspector general of police responded to his motion through a counter-affidavit raising grievous allegations against his clients, he was just served in open court.

The senior lawyer said he would need more time to study the process and respond appropriately.

The police chief’s lawyer, Aliyi Garba, admitted that he served the counter affidavit opposing Fagbemi’s application in the court.

Ms Olajuwon discovered that a copy of the police counter affidavit was not in the court file. She consequently adjourned the matter until March 19 to continue the trial.

The five defendants, who are loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, were on January 25 arraigned on seven counts bordering on terrorism and murder.

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

On February 5, the judge declined to admit them to bail on the ground that they did not provide special circumstances to warrant their respective release from remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

They were alleged to have invaded, vandalised and burnt down Rivers assembly on December 29, 2023, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 preferred against them by the inspector general of police.

(NAN)