June 25, 2018
Chukwuemeka Chimerue and Chikwas Onu Ikpe
[The Biafra Times Correspondents]
Today had been inscribed for the final ruling on the bail applications of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants, filed by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor–led IPOB legal team; following the upshot of the amended charges and a "not guilty" plea entered by the quartet defendants.
It is important to take into account that Bright Chimezie, the 1st defendant in the amended charges had been granted bail by the Federal High Court, dated May, 24, 2017, which it directed an "immediate release" of Bright Chimezie from detention and a compensation fine of five million Naira to the same. That ruling from Federal High Court, Uyo, is till today, still subsisting. Nevertheless, the government agency, Department of State Security Services, DSS, which apprehended him brazenly flaunted the positive orders of the court.
Nonetheless, he [Bright Chimezie] he is facing trials with the other three defendants at the Federal High Court Abuja, in an amended three-count charge.
Similarly, the other three defendants, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi, and Chidiebere Onwudiwe are being remanded in prison custody for almost three years, owing to the lack of ingredients that borders on the "phantom" and "frivolous" charges slammed against them; and thereupon have no argument to have appeared before the court.
Also, before the court are pending applications aligned by the lead counsel of IPOB, 'challenging the competence of the charge on the ground that the shreds of evidence filed in support of the charge do not disclose a 'prima facie' case against the defendants.
Recall that at the last adjourned date, May 30, 2018, the court foreclosed the Prosecution from further response(s) in relation to the bail applications, owing to the overdue quiescence on the part of the Prosecution.
Therefore, the basis of the trial is pending on the legal applications that is or would be put forward by the defence counsels.
Therefore, we look forward to the sanctity of the judicial process to absorb and effectuate, not without justice, the bail cum release of these activists.
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