Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the prosecution of five loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who are standing trial for terrorism at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

The case, instituted by the inspector general of police, accused Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod, of killing a police superintendent, Bako Agbashim and five civilians in a political crisis leading to the burning of the Rivers House of Assembly complex.

The IGP claimed the five allies of the governor masterminded the arson of the government building, which he said was tantamount to terrorism. The five civilians allegedly killed by the defendants were Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu, and Saturday Edi.

But Mr Fagbemi has signalled interest in prosecuting the five defendants and taking over from the police. The AGF, represented by David Kaswe, told Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon on Tuesday that he was awaiting case files from the police to proceed with prosecution.

He blamed the police’s foot-dragging in transferring the case files for stalling the trial.

Ms Olajuwon asked all the parties to reconvene on May 7, when all the case files must have been properly transferred to the AGF. 

The defendants are to be remanded in Kuje prison custody pending the trial’s outcome.