May 30, 2018
Chukwuemeka Chimerue and Chikwas Onu Ikpe
[The Biafra Times Correspondents]
We are making headway to the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court today, being the rescheduled day slated for ruling on the bail applications of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants, filed by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor–led IPOB legal team; following the upshoot of the amended charges and a "not guilty" plea entered by the quartet defendants.
It is important to take into account that Bright Chimezie, the 1st defendant in the amended charges had been granted bail by the Federal High Court, dated May, 24, 2017, which it directed an "immediate release" of Bright Chimezie from detention and a compensation fine of five million Naira to the same. That ruling from Federal High Court, Uyo, is till today, still subsisting. Nevertheless, the government agency, Department of State Security Services, DSS, which apprehended him brazenly flaunted the positive orders of the court.
Howbeit, he [Bright Chimezie] has been re–arraigned and adjoined to face trial with the three other defendants at the Federal High Court Abuja, in an amended three-count charge.
Similarly, the three other defendants, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi, and Chidiebere Onwudiwe are being remanded in prison custody for almost three years, owing to the lack of ingredients that boarders on the "phantom" and "frivolous" charges slammed against them; and thereupon have no argument to have appeared before the court.
Also, before the court are pending applications aligned by the lead counsel of IPOB, 'challenging the competence of the charge on the ground that the evidences filed in support of the charge do not disclose a 'prima facie' case against the defendants.
In addition, if the Prosecution counsel had not filed a response with respect to the bail applications of the three other defendants, there would be a common application before the court to foreclose the (Prosecution) right of response.
Therefore, we look forward to the sanctity of the judicial process to absorb and effectuate, not without justice, the bail cum release of these activists.
Stay tuned with BIAFRA WRITERS PRESS as we bring you LIVE reports from FHC today.
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