By Onuoha Endurance Ebelechukwu
It was since 2007 that a group of 17 members of the Movement For The Actualization Of The Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB) involved in the agitation for a free Biafran Republic were remanded in Onitsha and Awka Prisons custody respectively over the alleged crime of Kidnap and murder and apparently forgotten and abandoned by their Former leader Ralph Uwazurike.
The 17 defendants has claimed that they have
been in continued detention since 2007 without
trial and fair hearing.
The grpup had petitioned the Attorney-General of
the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr
Abubakar Salami (SAN) asserting the 17 agitators have
been incarcerated in Onitsha and Awka prisons for the last 10 years without bail and fair hearing in the court.
Those in detention are: Innocent
Orji, Sabastine Amadi, Casmir Odakara, Ojemba
Anyanwu, Eni Kalu, Ndubisi Okam, Ikechukwu
Chikwem, Chukwuma Kalu,
Chidiebere Ezekwem and Mmaduabuchi Asika.
Others are Uche Idikaigbo, Uchenna Nicholas,
Peter Igbokwe, Ikechukwu Aghara, Ama Onuh,
Chukwuebuka Ikenwa (Hightension), Okwudiri
Bassey, Chima Asor and Chinwendu Irondi.
Since 2007 till today,
none of the detainees have been given audience,
fair hearing, justice and judgment. The DPP and Judges of the State High Court Onitsha has used their
regular absence in court which has resulted in
prolonged adjournments as a delay tactic to
frustrate the detainees and make them languish
in prisons on awaiting trial.
“Now almost all of them have lost heir parents,
children and relations and could not witness their
burial ceremonies. For instance, one of the
