Abia-based legal practitioner reveals why IPOB members should be released

macfranc007 October 06, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 David Oladele

- An Abia-based legal practitioner, Charles Onuchukwu, has explained why Aba Magistrate Court must release 14 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

- Onuchukwu said the court remand the 14 suspected members of IPOB in prison without having jurisdiction on the case

- The legal practitioner also said the suspects were arrested from their homes

Charles Onuchukwu, an Abia-based legal practitioner, has called on Aba Magistrate Court to release the 14 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra arraigned over alleged murder, arson, use of offensive weapons and theft.

Onuchukwu, made the call after the court said it lacked jurisdiction on the case, yet ordered the remand of the 14 suspected members of IPOB in prison.

Reports have it that the lawyer further claimed that, ''some of the suspects were innocent citizens arrested on the road and from their homes.”

The suspects, according to charge No; MAN/ 132/ C/2017 and MAN/ 133C/2017, Commissioner of Police vs Chinonso Ude and six others, read that, “Chinonso Ude, Maduabuchi Echereodo, Ukochukwu Ikechukwu, Okechukwu Daniel, Okezie Jeremiah, Chizuruoke Nwanmuo and Ifeanyi Sunday, were arraigned on 12-count charge which includes the murder of ASP Cyril Nwosu, setting ablaze the Ariaria police station, burning of exhibit vehicles, theft of police pump action rifles and control offensive weapons as members of the IPOB, which you used to terrorize the public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 10(1)(a) of the Abia State Prohibition of terrorism, kidnapping, hostage taking, the use of offensive weapons or explosives and other threatening behaviour Law No. 10 of 2009.”

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In his ruling, Presiding Magistrate of Aba North Court 2, Ogbonna Adiele, who said the court lacks jurisdiction to try the alleged offences of murder and arson, ordered the suspects in Charge No; MAN/ 132C/2017 and MAN/133C/2017, to be remanded in prison, and directed the police to transfer the case file to director of public rosecution. He adjourned the case till October 11 for report on compliance.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that police, Rivers state command paraded 65 IPOB members allegedly arrested for disturbing the peace and organising an unauthorized gathering in Port Harcourt.

Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer: my client is on a political trial - on NAIJ.com TV.