45 suspected IPOB members arraigned in Rivers
Chukwudi Akasike
and Friday Amobi, Port Harcourt
Forty-five suspected members of the Indigenous
People of Biafra were arraigned at two Magistrate Courts in Port Harcourt on
Monday evening by the Rivers State Police Command.
The suspects were arrested for allegedly embarking
on an unauthorised rally/protest on Friday in Port Harcourt and its environs in
support of President Donald Trump of the United States of America while also
calling for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The suspects were among the 65 persons the state
police command said it arrested during the protest that lasted for several
hours.
While 35 suspects were brought before Chief
Magistrate S. Andrew-Jaja, of Court 8, the other seven were arraigned
before Chief Magistrate A. O. Amadi-Nna, around 5.10pm.
They were all arraigned on two counts of conspiracy
to commit treasonable felony and display of unruly behaviour.
According to the first charge, the suspects were
accused of committing treasonable felony and committed an offence punishable
under Section 516A (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume II Laws of Rivers
State of Nigeria, 1999.
But the second charge indicated that they conducted
themselves in a manner “likely to force or compel the President to change his
measures by displaying flags and other items of the Biafra Republic, with
such intention of an act to take over the Government of Nigeria by force and
thereby committed an offence punishable under section 41 (c) of the Criminal
Code Cap 37 Volume II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.”
All the accused persons were, however, remanded in prison
custody while the matter was adjourned till January 30, 2017.
The accused persons were later driven away from the
court premises in a Black Maria at about 6.13pm.
The counsel for the accused persons,
Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who spoke with newsmen after the court session, said
his clients were with “overwhelming evidence” against the security agencies and
how they (security operatives) killed some pro-Biafran protesters during the
rally.
Ejiofor alleged that over 20 members of IPOB were
murdered by security agents.