– About 88 MASSOB members who were arrested during an inter-denominational service to commemorate the 2016 Biafra day have been released on bail – They were arraigned before an Abakaliki Magistrate court on a four count charge of conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society – They pleaded not guilty to the charges after the charges […]
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– About 88 MASSOB members who were arrested during an inter-denominational service to commemorate the 2016 Biafra day have been released on bail
– They were arraigned before an Abakaliki Magistrate court on a four count charge of conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society
– They pleaded not guilty to the charges after the charges were read to them, and were then granted bail after the their counsel made the application for bail
The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has secured the release of 88 of its members who were arrested by the Ebonyi state police command in Abakaliki during this year’s Biafra day celebration.
READ ALSO: 4 pro-biafra agitators to face trial in Umuahia
The Nation reports that the MASSOB members were released on bail after their counsel, Jerry Ezenyi made application for their bail on the grounds that that their offence was bailable.
The 88 members of the group were by the police at Nkaliki primary School, Abakaliki local government area of the state, where they were holding a inter-denominational service to commemorate the 2016 Biafra day.
They were then arraigned before an Abakaliki Magistrate court on a four count charge of conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society, membership of unlawful group and possession of items calling for the declaration of Biafra.
They however pleaded not guilty to the charges after the charges were read to them, and were then granted bail after the their counsel made the request application
Though the prosecution counsel Adeola Elumaru opposed the bail application on the grounds that that the accused persons had been arrested in the past for same offence.
READ ALSO: Why we killed pro-Biafran supporters – Army reveals
The trial Magistrate, Stella Ogoke granted the accused persons bail with N500, 000 and seven sureties who must be within the magisterial jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has received South East Group for Change led by Senator Ken Nnamani in Statehouse on May 31, 2016.
This came a day after the pro-Biafran activists commemorating the anniversary of the defunct Biafra Republic clashed with the Nigerian army in Onitsha.
Late General Ojukwu had led the secession of the old Eastern Region and declared the region the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967.
His attempt to break away from Nigeria led to the three-year Nigerian Civil War and Biafra’s defeat.
But in recent times, pro Biafra groupd, MASSOB and IPOB have been attempting to revive the struggle for Biafra.
The post Biafra: MASSOB records victory appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Nigerian newspapers.