The legal representative of Nnamdi Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejimofor, has called for the immediate release of over 35 Biafra agitators who have been detained at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre, Ebonyi State, since 2021.
Ejimofor revealed that the detainees, all Ebonyi indigenes, have been granted bail four times by a court of competent jurisdiction but remain in custody. He urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene and ensure their release.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki after a court session regarding the detainees, Ejimofor recounted their legal ordeal, describing the repeated charges against them as bogus and unjust.
“These innocent Biafrans were arrested at different locations in 2021 by the Nigerian police and charged with murder. During the trial, the prosecution presented witnesses, but we filed a no-case submission, proving that their evidence could not sustain the charges. The court ruled in our favor and discharged them,” Ejimofor stated.
Despite their discharge, he lamented that the authorities filed fresh charges, accusing them of armed robbery, arson, and unlawful possession of firearms.
“The prosecution brought witnesses, yet their evidence was weak. Again, the court found merit in our objection and discharged them. However, they were re-arrested and faced yet another set of charges with the same details and witnesses,” he continued.
Ejimofor condemned the endless cycle of litigation, emphasizing that justice had already been served in their favor multiple times. He described the detainees’ prolonged incarceration as a violation of their rights.
“These individuals have lost their parents, children, and businesses since 2021. They have committed no crime. We demand their immediate release,” he concluded.
