Nineteen Suspected Acquitted IPOB members of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) who were discharged and acquitted shed tears of joy after 15 years in detention.
They were accused of treason and terrorism charges but Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra state capital ordered their release for want of evidence.
The court presided by Justice Nicholas Oweibo said the prosecutors failed to establish proof for treason and terrorism charges levelled against the nineteen accused persons.
Counsel to the acquitted persons, Okoli Akirika, said ”The judge came to the conclusion that there was no iota or scintilla of evidence adduced by the prosecution against the defendants. It took more than fourteen years to come to this conclusion and this brings to fore one of the defects in our criminal justice system. This is a case in which people wasted their youthful years.”
One of those released, Casmir Odorka, expressed gratitude to God for eventually setting him free after 15 years of being held in detention for a crime he never committed.
”I give God all the glory for my life. Over 15 years in prison but today, I am free.”
One of the acquitted persons who couldn’t contain his joy after regaining his freedom 15 years after his arrest, said
”I am a business man. I have two stores and I left them unlocked. They picked me up and took me to the police station. I told my neighbors that I would be coming back in the next one hour.
‘’This is the next one hour. 15 years. I left my shop unlocked. I didn’t know anything. Today I regained my freedom. To God, be the glory! None of us died. I give God the glory.”
MASSOB is a secessionist group demanding the creation of Biafra.
Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Federal High Court in Awka-Anambra, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, , Okoli Akirika, Casmir Odorka
