Police charge 20 pro-Biafra members with alleged treason

THE police have in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital arraigned 20 members of indigenous people of Biafra and supporters of garrulous director of Biafra Radio, Nnamdi Kalu, for conspiracy and treason.

The accused persons, who were arrested in Port Harcourt on Tuesday during a street demonstration to protest the arrest of Kanu, were arraigned before a Magistrate Court presided over by Chief Magistrate S.D. Andrew-Jaja on a three-count charge.

Those arraigned include Benson Sunday; Emmanuel Ali; Ukeme Monday; Chibuzor Eechina; Charles Eze Egbo Okechukwu; Chibona Ifion; John Douglas and Ezenwa Alphonus.

Others are Wori Endurance; Chinomere Nwolu; Henry Eze Friday Uzunwa; Igbodo Abio; Akaniyene Uwem; Eni Iboro; Obinna Stephen; Monday Ocha; Obinna Ibekwe and kingsely Ezengorie.

The police, through its prosecutor, A. A Ajagha, said the accused persons without lawful authority demonstrated and chanted war songs proclaiming the state of Biafra which caused panic in the neighbourhood, instill fear on reasonable grounds with intent to intimidate or cause panic within the state and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

In the second charge, the police said the “accused persons and others currently at large on Tuesday about 1400hours at Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District did wilfully and unlawfully damaged the Nigerian flag which was hoisted at Zenith Bank Plc and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”

An application by the counsel to the accused for bail was turned down by the presiding Chief Magistrate who declared that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the matter. He however, ordered, that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till October 27, 2015 to enable the counsel address the court on the issue of bail.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned against insidious actions by anybody or group in the state.

The governor said he was peeved by Tuesday’s protest, warning that such demonstrations will not be brooked by his administration.

Wike, while emphasizing the indivisibility of Nigeria, said the actions of the pro-Biafra members were capable of stimulating chaos in the state.

The governor warned that as the Chief Security Officer of the state who swore to protect lives and property, he wouldn’t not tolerate actions that could lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.