Court Discharges, Acquits 50 Anambra Residents Arrested By The Police As IPOB Members.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday discharged and acquitted no fewer than 50 persons from the South-East region who were accused of being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The residents of Anambra State were arrested by the Nigeria Police Force on December 12, 2023, at Umunze Village, Uga Aguata Local Government Area and driven to Abuja for allegedly belonging to IPOB.
The policemen led by one Collins Eruogwu together with local vigilante group, arrested the over 50 Igbo youths including four women in their villages without any material evidence.
After detaining them for more than two months, the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun arraigned them on February 9, 2024, before Justice James Omotosho, on allegations bordering on terrorism.
Delivering judgment in the charge, Justice Omotosho held that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) failed, in its entirety, to establish a case against the defendants, and upheld their no-case submission.
The trial judge stated emphatically that the prosecution failed to adduce any credible evidence, linking the defendants with the allegations they were charged.
The judge consequently struck out the three-count charge preferred against the defendants.
In count one of the charge dated Jan. 10 but filed on February 9, the police alleged that on or about December 12, 2023, at Umunze Village, Uga Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, while acting on tip-off of Intelligent gathering, intercepted and arrested them by the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Police Command led by Collins Eruogwu together with local vigilante group.
They were alleged to have assembled themselves inside a 911 truck with Reg No. XA-139 BDN, and engaging themselves in a meeting all about, and in connection with an act of terrorism.
Besides, they were alleged to have in their custody 48 black caps, 25 red caps, and six orange colour caps, and all were designed in IPOB emblem with various degrees of charms which they admitted to having possessed the spiritual power of disappearing while carrying out your terrorist transaction.
The police further alleged that their “gathering is for the purpose of promoting illegality in other to terrorise the people of Anambra State and that thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 12 of Terrorism, (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.
