FG fails to arraign Biafra secessionists in Enugu

 The Federal Government on Thursday failed to arraign 12 members of the Biafra Zionist Federation, who were charged with treason, before the Federal High Court, Enugu.

 

The accused persons are the leader of the BZF, Benjamin Onwuka, Kelvin Eke, Samson Ijaga, Uduma Uduma, Bethrain Obiekwe, Abraham Ugwu, Paulinus Uzoegbu, Fidelis Nwaano, Nnamchi Ndubuisi, Michael Olennya, Jeophet  Nwaodo and Aloysius Chukwuma.

 

The suspects were arrested after they invaded the studio of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service in an unsuccessful bid to declare the secession of the Republic of Biafra on June 5.

Two people died during the incident, including a policeman.

 

The Office of the Attorney General of Federation had filed charges against the accused persons on behalf of the Federal Government, but, although it was learnt that they were brought to Enugu from Abuja, where they had been detained since their arrest, the secessionists were not produced in court for their scheduled arraignment.

 

The AGF, who filed the charge against the accused persons, was also not represented in court.

Addressing the court, counsel for the Zionists, Olu Omotayo, who is also the South East Zonal Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation, expressed reservations at the absence of the AGF.

 

He asked the court for an adjournment, and further prayed that the case be struck out if the government again failed to produce the suspects on that date.

Omotayo said, “I am surprised that despite that AGF has filed a charge in this case, the accused persons have not been brought to court.

 

“They have not written to court about it. In this circumstance, we are asking for a very short date. We shall be asking for a very short date.

 

“On the next adjourned date, if they (Federal Government) fail to bring them, we will ask that the matter be struck out.”

 

The counsel accused the Federal Government of deliberately delaying the matter in order to frustrate a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the suspects.