Court remands 15 in Enugu for alleged IPOB membership
Due to their claimed affiliation with the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), 15 people were remanded at an Enugu detention facility on Friday by an Enugu Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr. A.C. Mbah.
The defendants are Aloysius Okonkwo, age 67; John Ebuka, age 18; Ucheme Ebuka, age 19; Lilian Chizoba, age 42; Maureen Echetanze, age 63; Eucharia Otu, age 40; Ngozi Emmanuel, age 44; and Cletus Duruoha, age 55.
Other individuals include Chibuzor Abara (age 64), Chijoke Nwankwo (age 43), Monday Azita (age 28), Ikechukwu Ani (age 55), Benedict Onunze (age 58), and Chinonso Ugwu (age 35).additionally Ndubuisi Nnamani (55).
They were charged with conspiracy, treasonable felony, belonging to illegal and prohibited groups (Biafra and IPOB), and having materials related to Biafra on four counts.
The accused individuals entered a plea of not guilty after hearing the accusations read to them in English and Igbo.
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In lieu of accepting their plea, Magistrate Mbah remanded them to the prison facility while he awaited guidance from the director of public prosecution.
Earlier, Mr. Emmanuel Ajokwu, the prosecution attorney, said the court that the suspects and other people who are still at large planned and perpetrated a treasonable felony on May 29, 2023, in Emene, Enugu East Council Area.
He said that they took part in Biafra’s efforts to overthrow the Nigerian government and install a Biafra government.
Ajokwu said that the accused individuals belonged to the IPOB, which has been outlawed, and mentioned that Biafra insignia, including as banners, bangles, and flags, had been discovered on them.
He continued by saying that they joined IPOB, an organization that the Federal Government of Nigeria has designated as a terrorist organization, and took part in its activities.
He claims that the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004) are applicable in Enugu State and that their conduct are punishable under those laws.
Additionally, it was discovered that the police are searching every crevice of the mansion of individuals who are still at large. Osmond Sobechukwu Nzekwe, Nwene Franka Chinyere, Ozoene Francis Ojukwu, Okonkwo Nnabuike, Chukwu John Emeka, and Christopher Ndubisi Eze are a few of their noteworthy members. The Nigerian police had listed them as sought.
