14 IPOB members remanded

A MagistrateS’ Court sitting in Aba North Local Government area of Abia State presided over by Ogbonna Adiele, yesterday remanded 14 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba Federal Prison.

Adiele on September 18 remanded seven accused IPOB members: Chinonso Ude (30years), Maduabuchi Echereodo (25years), Ugochukwu Ikechukwu (32years), Okechukwu Daniel (20years), Ifeanyi Sunday (33years), Okezie Jeremiah (26years) and Chizuruoke Nwauzo (27years) in prison custody following charges on terrorism, kidnapping and use of offensive weapons against them in charge sheets; 132C/2017 and MAN/133C/2017.

The 14 members of IPOB, Anthony Nnamani(20 years), Chima Chukwumere(22 years), Kingsley Sunday (21 years), Michael Onyedikachi(26 years), Eze Okereke(25 years), Christian Sylvester (45 years), Etim Effiong Ade(22 years), Emmanuel Onwukwe(29 years), Ndubuisi Ukoha(29 years), Ogbonna Nwaji(24 years), Salvation Stephen (22 years), Chizoba Nwosu(21 years), Ejike Elom(21 years) and Kelechi Anusie(26 years) were  arraigned on eight count of  Conspiracy, Murder, Arson, unlawful Association, Unlawful Assembly, Stealing with other two charges dealing on burning of the Ariaria Divisional Police Headquarters building and the cars at the premises.

While Police prosecutor Gabriel Ogbonna urged the the court to commence trial since according to him, the court had the jurisdiction to hear the matter, counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 5th accused persons, Charles Onuchukwu, objected to the prosecutor’s position, saying that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear cases of murder as contained on count 2 of the charge sheet.

Onuchukwu also argued that the issue of ”holding charge” was unconstitutional and unknown to law.

The trial magistrate after listening to the argument of the prosecutor and counsel to the accused persons ordered that the accused persons were remanded to prison custody and ordered that the case file be transferred to the office of the Attorney General for advice

The case was adjourned to October 4 for report of compliance.