March 3, 2017
PORT HARCOURT— A Chief Magistrate Court of the Rivers state judiciary on Friday discharged and acquitted thirty-five out of fourty five members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB who were arrested during a solidarity rally for the inauguration of US President, Donald Trump on 20th January, 2017.
The Nigerian military forces refused friends and family members of the defendants entry inside the courtroom of which its session kicked off at about 10:30 in the morning.
It was noted that due to insincerity and lack of diligent prosecution on the part of the Police and Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, in Rivers state, the Chief Magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja, discharged the defendants.
According to the Chief Magistrate, “I have no other reason to detain this innocent people here anymore, they are free of crime and are lawful people, I hereby discharge them all with immediate effect.”
Read also:Biafra:Trump Rally: 45 Arraigned In Igweocha Court, Slammed With Treason Charges: Barr. Ejiofor Berates Charges
Magistrate Jaja also frowned at the negligence of the Police and the DPP for allowing the court remand the suspects for 37 days.
He told the Police and the DPP that it will be in their best interest to drop the charges against the defendants if there is no noble course against the defendants.
It was adduced that the reason why the rest of the defendants joined in the suit were not released alongside their colleagues was because of the absence of their case files, however, the Court adjourned their case till next week.
The released Biafrans expressed their profound gratitude and effort of IPOB leadership in securing their release; while in the mood of celebration vowed never to relent in this noble cause... "Biafra or death" is our vow and until it is restored, we must continue they said.
By Chukwuemeka Chimerue
Published By Nwosu C.S
For Biafra Writers
No comments
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.