Port Harcourt: Court frees 35 Biafra agitators who marched to celebrate Donald Trump
35 Biafra agitators have regained freedom after they were discharged by a Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
The members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were arrested after they embarked on a protest in support of American President Donald Trump in January.
The rally turned violent, which led to their arrest.
The Magistrate, Mr Andrew Jaja, said the court discharged the accused persons on the ground of lack of diligent prosecution.
Mr. Jaja said the treasonable felony which the Biafra agitators were charged for was a capital offence, punishable by death.
He added that since the members’ arrest on January 20, the court had adjourned the case many times, as the commissioner of police, Director of Public Prosecution and Attorney-General didn’t show interest in the prosecution.
“The court has the right to grant them bail,” Mr Jaja said.
“The adjournment has elapsed, without the State Commissioner of police and AG making their inputs into the matter.
“The court has the right (power) to grant the accused persons bail or discharge them in line with the constitution.”
He, however, warned the Biafra agitators to remain peaceful and desist from embarking on further protest.
They would be seriously dealt with if they were paraded for a similar offence, he sternly warned.
There was jubilation outside the court by the relations and friends of the discharged persons, NAN reports.
