By Charles Nwoke
The Ebonyi State High Court on Thursday ordered the release of 12 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who had been detained since May 24, 2021.
Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the legal representative of IPOB, confirmed the development in a statement issued after the ruling. He said the 12 released individuals were part of a group of 36 IPOB supporters arrested almost four years ago.
Ejiofor revealed that courts had repeatedly discharged and acquitted the detainees of all charges. However, they remained in custody until Thursday’s ruling.
The court acted after the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) filed a formal application acknowledging the previous court judgments. The DPP withdrew the latest charges against the 12 detainees, leading to their immediate release.
Ejiofor stated that the court’s directive was promptly carried out. He described the action as a long-overdue respect for the rule of law and a clear reaffirmation of the detainees’ innocence.
He also noted that efforts are ongoing to free the remaining IPOB members. According to him, no fewer than four High Courts in Ebonyi State had acquitted them.
“Their release is no longer a matter of if but when,” he said.
