Some Biafran agitators who have been in detention since 2009 for allegedly kidnapping and killing some Chinese workers from Innoson Group of Companies have been granted release by the Onitsha High Court on Tuesday August 1.
The accused were discharged and acquitted by the court on the ground that they had stayed in prison since 2009 which was enough time to be detained even if they had been found guilty.
However, Mr. Innocent Orji who is the leader of the Biafra Nation Guard (BNG) and was detained alongside his members consistently denied kidnapping or killing anybody, alleging that he was roped into the case due to his agitation for an independent Biafra state.
He was released by the Onitsha High Court presided over by Justice Ikeogu on the ground that he has overstayed ten years which is the number of the years he was to be detained for the offence he was accused of.
Mr. Orji ‘s counterparts, Sabastine Amadi, Amah Onu and Chukwuebuka Ikenwa were discharged and acquitted and were asked to go since they do not have any other pending case against them.
Others who were discharged by the court but still have cases to answer at Awka, the state capital include; Casmir Odakwe, Ojemba Anyanwu, Eni Kalu, Ndubuisi Okam, Ikechukwu Chikwem, Emmanuel Orji, Chukwuma Kalu, Chidiebere Ezekwem, Maduabuchi Asika, Uche Idikaigbo, Uchenna Nicholas, Peter Igbokwe and Ikechukwu Aghara.
The BNG leader while speaking with newsmen after his release thanked God for his infinite mercy towards him and also thanked the Onitsha High Court Judge for how he allowed justice to prevail at last by granting him and others freedom.
He commended all the patriotic Biafrans who have contributed in one way or the other to facilitate his freedom and promised that all their effort will not be in vain as he will not betray the trust they have in him.
He said: “As for the Biafra restoration struggle, we must continue, no going back, we all shall march together until we reach to our final destination and our promise land which is Bifran nation. I must comment all the efforts of pro Biafra groups towards achieving Biafra restoration and sovereignty these ten years of my incarceration.
“My gratitude goes to Benjamin Onwuka, a lawyer and pro Biafra activist leading Biafra Zionist Federation group, the indefatigable leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB in the person Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Mazi Uche Mmefor, and IPOB worldwide, leader of MASSOB , Comrade Uchenna Madu and other Biafra agitators for their sensitization, awakening the consciousness for the restoration of Biafra.
“I must also commend the effort of Biafra People National Council, BNPC, for their unity, alliance, coalition and collectively endorsing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as the Biafran Supreme leader to speed up our struggle for Biafra restoration.” he concluded.
