60 IPOB members docked, remanded in prison

THE Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, on Monday, remanded 60 members of the separatist group, IPOB, in prison.

The court ordered that the accused be remanded at the Afara Federal Prisons in Aba.

The IPOB members were among those arrested in the clashes with security officials which eventually led to the secessionist group being declared a terrorist organisation.

The suspects were arraigned for alleged conspiracy, terrorism, attempted murder, and membership of the unlawful society.

IPOB is seeking an independent Igbo country of Biafra, while its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently being prosecuted for alleged treason.

After the clashes in Abia, which also led to the death of a police officer and burning down of a police station, the group was prescribed by the South-East governors and later declared a terrorist organisation by a federal court, following an application by the Federal Government.

The case was later adjourned until October 25.

IPOB proscription an illegality —SAN

Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Ilochi Okafor, has condemned the prescription of the activities of IPOB describing the act as illegal.

He said the secessionists’ group had the right in law for agitation, saying the military had no role to play in quelling civilian demonstration where the police had not failed.

Speaking to journalists in Awka, the state capital, on Monday, during the 2017/2018 legal year of the Anambra State judiciary, the former Vice-chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, questioned the justification of the army in subjecting the defenceless and unarmed youths to physical torture and denigrating their dignity.

He argued that demonstrations towards the realisation of the right to self-determination were recognised as fundamental human rights in international law and United Nations charter.

Expressing regrets over the various threats of exterminations the Igbos had faced for decades, the legal luminary called on the agitators not to be deterred as their cries against marginalisation would soon yield positive results.

“Despite the verbal violence and grandiose rhetoric of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB is not a terrorist Origination. No person has been killed by IPOB.

“Its rallies have been crowded but it has not been shown that any person carried or discharged weapons during the rallies.” he added.

On his part, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Anali Chude, described IPOB as enemies of the state for calling for a boycott of the November 18 poll in the state.

He said, “Enemies of the state wanted to take the advantage to plunge Anambra state into chaos by directing that elections will not hold in Anambra State.

“It is the stance of the state government that elections must hold in Anambra State. We shall stand up to the occasion and refuse to allow people who do not wish Anambra State well to drag us into a situation whereby we will be turned into the guinea pig in Nigeria polity.”

In his address, the chief judge of the State, Justice Peter Umeadi, assured members of the judiciary in the state of a better working condition.

IPOB agitations, others will continue except —Baptist College

In a related development, the Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Oyo, Dr Olusayo Oladejo, has urged the Federal Government to see to the equitable and justifiable distribution of the nation’s resources among the various zones to put an end to intermittent agitations by various groups.

Oladejo, who spoke with journalists on Monday, as part of activities marking the college’s 40th anniversary, also lamented that the nation’s leaders had, over the years, failed to appropriately utiliSe the country’s resources, evident in the current agitation by IPOB.

While lamenting injustice and poverty faced by Nigerians, he said the church was, therefore, compelled to empower her members to meet their basic needs and meaningfully contribute to state affairs.

Speaking on events of the anniversary to include visitations, revival, students’ day, history book launching, fundraising, Oladejo mentioned that the Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Professor Dapo Asaju will on Saturday deliver the anniversary lecture themed, “Theological Education in the 21st century: Prospects and Challenges.”

In his comments, Chairman, Board of Governors of the college, Dr Olubunmi Ajayi, noted that it was high time Nigerians converged to decide on their terms of being together in one nation.

According to Ajayi, the nation was not bounded by love, hence Nigerians failed to see themselves as members of the same family, but upheld their various ethnic identities.