In a landmark ruling, the Ebonyi State High Court has discharged and acquitted 36 Pro- Biafra activists after they spent over four years in detention. The announcement was made by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), during a press briefing in Owerri on Friday, September 27....Please Read Full Article>>
The activists, all natives of Ebonyi State, were first arrested in 2020 and accused of murder. However, throughout the lengthy legal process, the prosecution struggled to present substantial evidence to support the charges. Despite numerous delays and attempts to push the case forward, the court was eventually forced to take action.
In a major development, on September 27, 2022, the court dismissed the murder charges against the detainees after Ejiofor filed a ” No Case Submission, ” arguing that the evidence provided was insufficient for the case to proceed.
Although the activists were acquitted of the murder charges, they were swiftly re- arrested under new accusations, including unlawful possession of firearms and robbery.
Ejiofor revealed that despite another court ruling on December 22, 2023, which again ordered the activists’ release, prison officials refused to comply, keeping them in custody. He expressed outrage at what he described as a clear disregard for judicial authority, emphasizing that such actions undermine the rule of law.
” This continued detention despite two separate court acquittals is a mockery of the judicial process, ” Ejiofor lamented. He further disclosed that after the third acquittal on September 27, 2024, prison officials pointed to new charges filed before the Ikwo High Court as the basis for their continued detention.
The legal battles surrounding the case highlight the challenges faced by activists in the region, as well as broader concerns about the judicial process in Nigeria.
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