32 years on awaiting trial- open letter to the executive governor of Anambra state

His Excellency Governor Willie Obiano;

It is now pertinent that I write this letter to you because corrupt justice system of Nigeria and precisely Anambra state is once more threatening the coming election of the state. Members of Biafra National Guard have been incarcerated in Onitsha prison and Awka prison respectively for more than 32years(prison term) without trial. They were charged with treasonable felony and dumped in prison for more than 16years. Even if found guilty of their charges; the enshrined punishment has long surpassed what they have spent on awaiting trial. The question is; what happened or how is trial of treasonable felony unable to be concluded after sixteen years?

It is also important that I bring to your notice that the very case is handled by a private prosecutor after the federal government withdrew from the case on account of lack of evidence to prosecute the suspects. The very lawyer of the plaintiff is also behind the fiat after federal government recused itself.

Meanwhile; the leader or lead suspect in this matter has long been discharged and acquitted; it is therefore a waste of time and a shame to your government that innocent people continued to be incarcerated for this unwarranted length of time.

Recently; three years after the leader of Biafra National Guard was released, the group with a track record of military might has issued a press statement demanding the release of their members or Anambra state election will be literally stopped. They anchored their reason on the inability of the matter involving seventeen members of the organization to be adjudicated on after 16years.

It is disheartening that after sixteen years; the justice system of Anambra state is unable to adjudicate on a treasonable felony matter and unfortunately, whether to be taken serious or not, the matter is having effect (verbal) on the coming election. We cannot wait to see if BNG can do something or not; the risk is not worth taking a time the country is already fragile.

The government of Anambra state allowed personal vendetta to dictate the adjudication of the matter; following the interest of Chukwuma Innoson who felt his Chinese workers were victims of the national threat experienced at that very time; even when there is a more potent threat, he did not find it in the interest of the state to quickly heal wounds by releasing or soft-pedaling on his interest in the matter- having promised one of the suspect that he would keep her in prison until her child grows old to the point she can’t recognize her because his business was threatened during the crisis orchestrated by BNG in 2007.

There was no reason to continue to hold the remaining 17 suspects that were arrested as part of investigation to bring in the main suspect. The main suspect has been released and had it been there was common sense in those handling the matter; they would have released peripherals and use that opportunity to heal wounds.

The time is yet not late to release those innocent suspects; if it is done today, it is done on time. Those that have interest in the matter have massively cheated the law and hampered adjudication; knowing that should the law be allowed to take its course, those suspects would get justice. Being the longest serving awaiting trial prisoners (32 years prison term) in Anambra state on count of treasonable felony is shameful.

In the absence of the threat to stop election or their release; justice is divine and the state government should follow the path of justice. The suspects should be released because should they seek justice by arms; there would be blame on the side of the government’s inability to adjudicate on the matter or allow the law to take hold. The state government should not gamble the promise to stop election on a matter that holds nothing. Release those innocent suspects; because even terrorists got rehabilitated and didn’t spend more than six months in prison.

Yours truly,

Ifeanyi Chijioke

An investigative/Independent Journalist

Writes from Enugu

Ifeanyichijioke97@gmail.com

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