Twenty Pro Biafra supporters have been charged with treasonable felony by the Police after partaking in a protest by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Monday, in Port Harcourt.
The suspects were remanded in prison by Chief Magistrate Andrew Jaja while the case has been adjourned till Tuesday October 27, 2015 so as to give room for their counsels arguments and bail applications.
According to the Vanguard Newspaper, those arraigned in court were : Benson Sunday (21), Emmanuel Ali (25), Ukeme Monday (32), Chibuzo Ezechina (33), Charles Eze (29), Egbo Okechukwu (24), Chibona Ifion (47), John Douglas (20), Ezenwa Alphonus (51), Wori Endurance (30), Chinomere Nwolu (25), Henry Eze (36),Friday Uzunwa (22), Igodo Abio (34), Akaniyene Uwem (22), Eni Iboro (27), Obinna Stephen (26), Monday Ocha (37), Obinna Ibekwe (27), and Kingsley Ezengorie (24)
They were charged for treasonable felony after allegedly destroying the national flag hoisted at the premises of a bank during their protest and chanting hate songs against the Nigerian state.
The three- count charge against them read in part, “…on October 20 2015, at about 2:00p.m., at Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt, the suspects and others now at large, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(2), of the criminal code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
“… on same date and time did without lawful authority demonstrate and chant war song that Hausa is not part of Biafra, which caused panic in the neighbourhood, instilled fear 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.
“…all the suspects and others now at large on the same place and time, did wilfully and unlawfully damage the Nigeria flag, which was hoisted at Zenith Bank Plc. Ikoku Branch in Port Harcourt, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451 of criminal code, Cap c38 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”
They were not allowed to take plea. but they were all represented by different counsels
