20 pro-Biafra supporters remanded in prison
A Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State yesterday arraigned 20 pro-Biafra
supporters following Tuesday’s protest over the
arrest of Radio Biafra director, Nnamdi Kanu.
The supporters, whose sympathisers besieged
the court, were later remanded in prison custody
for conspiracy and treason.
The accused persons who were arrested and
arraigned in court by police officers from Zone 6
are facing three-count charges in Suit Number
PMC/1195c/2015.
The accused include Benson Sunday, Emmanuel
Ali, Ukeme Monday, Chibuzor Eechina, Charles
Eze, Egbo Okechukwu, Chibona Ifion, John
Douglas, Ezenwa Alphonus, Wori Endurance,
Chinomere Nwolu, Henry Eze, Friday Uzunwa,
Igbodo Abio, Akaniyene Uwem, Eni Iboro, Obinna
Stephen, Monday Ocha, Obinna Ibekwe and
Kingsley Ezengorie.
Accused persons were arrested on Tuesday while
on demonstration in Port Harcourt to air their
grievance over the detention of Kanu.
Mr A. A. Ajagha is the prosecutor in the matter.
According to count one of the charge, the
accused persons were said to have without
lawful authority demonstrated and chanted war
songs that ‘House is not part of Biafra’ which
caused panic in the oil-rich city, on reasonable
grounds with intent to intimidate or cause panic
within the state and thereby committed an
offence punishable under Section 37 (1) of the
Criminal Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
Count two while listing the suspects names and
others at large, stated that they ‘‘On October 20,
2015 at about 1400hours at Ikwerre road, Port
Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District,
did willfully and unlawfully damage the Nigerian
flag hoisted at Zenith Bank Plc Ikoku branch,
Port Harcourt and thereby committed an offence
punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal
Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 2004.”
Ugwueze I.O, Destiny S.I. Chima and other three
lawyers who represented the accused persons
applied for the bail.
Ruling on the bail application, the trial Chief
Magistrate, S.D. Andrew- Jaja, said his court
lacks jurisdiction to try the matter, but following
the arguments of the accused lawyers he
adjourned the case till October 27 to enable the
counsel address the court on the issue of bail.
The Chief Magistrate further remanded the
accused persons in prison custody pending the
adjourned date.