Court Discharges 36 IPOB Members After Two Years Detention

The Ebonyi State High Court has released all thirty-six members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who had been detained in Abakaliki for two years. IPOB’s counsel, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, confirmed the release and revealed that the initial murder charges (HAB/29c/2021) were dismissed after a No Case Submission on June 15, 2022.

Ejiofor explained that during the ruling, the State government introduced new charges (HAB/43c/2022) related to firearms, unlawful association, arson, breach of peace, warlike undertaking, and robbery. The No Case Submission was upheld, resulting in the discharge of the defendants from the first charge.

The lawyer highlighted a second charge (HAB/43c/2022) where they submitted another No Case Submission on November 8, 2023, and expressed hope for the defendants’ freedom in January. However, a third charge (HAB/59c/2022) on murder was introduced while the second charge was pending. Ejiofor criticized it as an abuse of court process and an attempt to prolong detention.

Despite the court’s discharge on Friday, the defendants were returned to prison due to the pending third charge scheduled for January 18, 2024. Ejiofor voiced concerns about a deliberate effort to hinder the release of innocent Biafrans and assured ongoing efforts to secure their freedom.

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