By Chinonso Alozie

Owerri – The Federal High Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja, presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice J.K. Omotosho on Friday discharged and acquitted 50 pro-Biafrans.

The Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri.

According to Ejiofor, “Please join us in appreciating the Almighty ChukwuOkike Abiama, that he has done it again, today! The Federal High Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has just discharged and acquitted 50 Biafrans consisting of both young/old men and women, illegally held since the 1st day of December 2023. This calls for not only celebration but a victory dance.”

He recalled the story of how they were arrested by security agents narrating that; “These innocent citizens were illegally arrested by the overzealous Nigerian security Agents, in Anambra state on the 1st Day of December 2023, while on their way to participate in a burial ceremony; they were afterwards bundled and transported to Abuja, and subsequently charged on a frivolous and unfounded allegation of engaging in terrorism activities and meetings, in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/8/2024.”

He continued by saying: “Hearing was fully conducted, as the prosecution fielded four witnesses in proof of their case. At the end of the prosecution’s case, we filed A No Case submission, for which the court ruled upon today.

“In a well considered, incisive, profound and erudite Judgment delivered this morning being the 29th day of November 2024, by an erudite Jurist- His Lordship, Hon . Justice J.K. Omotosho, the court comprehensively upheld our No case submission, and consequently discharged these innocent Biafrans on all the three count charge, and accordingly acquitted them too.”

The Lawyer noted that; “This case was done pro bono; we never collected a kobo from any of the defendants’ relatives, neither do we intend to collect a dime from any of them tomorrow.”

He also appreciated the efforts of his erudite colleagues in chambers who diligently prosecuted this defence along with me , and who had effectively stood in for him when the occasion demands. “I cannot complete this note without saying a word of thanks to Bar. Habila Turshak, Bar Chimmuanya Emenari and our indefatigable Head of Chambers, who superintended over all the chambers pre-trial meetings, that grounded this unprecedented victory”. he said.