A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has discharged and acquitted Fubara Ohaka, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, on charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
Ohaka, Deputy Chairman of Youth Movement in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, has been standing trial on six counts of alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering, terrorism, dealings on illegal refining of products without a licence, and conspiracy, amongst other charges preferred against him since 2022 by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services, DSS.
Delivering judgement in the matter, the trial judge, Justice Stephen Dalyop-Pam, held that the Federal Government failed to provide evidence to back its claims against the defendant.
Justice Dalyop-Pam agreed to the no-case submission by the counsel to the defendant and thereby discharged and acquitted him.
In 2022, operatives of the DSS, in a joint operation, invaded the Port Harcourt residence of Ohaka, broke through his fence to his bedroom, and whisked him away.
It took months before residents and friends discovered where he was being held and the reasons for his arrest, leading to the legal battle that ended in his favour.