Celebration As Court Releases 35 IPOB Members

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt has lashed at the Nigeria Police and the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for unlawfullyimprisoning 35 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for 37 days in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The IPOB members were arrested in Port Harcourt during a solidarity rally for US President, Donald Trump on January 23.Chief Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja discharged the 35 IPOB members because of lack of diligent prosecution by the Police and the Director of Public Prosecution in Rivers State.

The Chief Magistrate expressed anger that for 37 days after the IPOB members were arrested and detained, the Police and the DPP were not able establish the crime the suspects committed.

There was wild jubilation by thousands of IPOB members who thronged the court to show solidarity with the members of IPOB immediately the court ordered their release.

The Police had herculean task keeping them away from the court complex during the court session.

Counsel to the IPOB members, David Onyema, accused the police of deliberately keeping the arrested suspects in prison for no cogent reason known to law.

“This matter has been adjourned several times simply because the Police and DPP failed to come up with any evidence against my clients.

“Those men have been remanded in prison for more than thirty days. Then, why do you keep holding them if you don’t have anything against them.

“The Magistrate told them that if there is no noble cause against the defendants it will be in the interest of the Police and the DPP to stand down the trial.”

Read More

IPOB Denies Split, Says Nnamdi Kanu Remains Leader

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied reports in some quarters that there was a split in its ranks, saying that the organisation remained united and strong in pursuing the cause of Biafra self-determination.

Speaking with ThisDay on phone yesterday, the Head of Media and Publicity of IPOB, Emma Powerful, said the organisation under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, had not changed and the loyalty of members was not in doubt.

“The only recognised IPOB is the one led by Nnamdi Kanu,” he said, adding that both locally and internationally there is no other group that goes by that name

Powerful blamed the insinuation of leadership crisis on Dr. Dozie Ikedife of Bilie human rights group, who had some time ago, claimed that he was the leader of IPOB even when he did not know how the organisation was formed by Kanu.

According to him, Ikedife and his group have seen that “a lot of progress has been made in the Biafra struggle” and therefore want to hijack the leadership of IPOB, adding that they have failed in their mischievous mission.

Ikedife had in March 2016 along with some people formed what they called customary government of Biafra, which they regarded as shadow government of Biafra without any recourse to IPOB leadership hence it was disowned by the members.

The IPOB media and publicity head noted that it was the detractors that were now giving the impression that IPOB is divided but the world knows better and nobody can claim what is not real.

“Nnamdi Kanu remains the undisputable leader and symbol of IPOB and no other organisation can change the situation,” he insisted.

Read More