Friday, July 18, 2025 - An Ebonyi State High Court, on Thursday, July 17, discharged and acquitted the last batch of 24 Biafran freedom fighters who had been standing trial for conspiracy and treason since their arrest on May 24, 2020.
The presiding judge, Justice I.P. Chima, ruled in favour of
a preliminary objection filed by the defence, which argued that the defendants
had already been discharged and acquitted by other courts on similar charges
and therefore could not be retried on the same facts.
The objection was anchored on Section 36(9) of the 1999
Constitution (as amended), which prohibits double jeopardy — a legal principle
known as autrefois acquit, meaning no individual shall be tried again for an
offence they have already been acquitted of.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Chima ordered the immediate
release of the 24 detainees from custody, declaring their prolonged detention
unconstitutional.
Lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Sir
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who represented the defendants, welcomed the ruling with
praise for the judiciary.
“This is a historic victory,” Ejiofor said. “These innocent
citizens were kept in custody under recycled and repackaged allegations even
after being discharged and acquitted by not less than five different High
Courts in Ebonyi State.”
The lawyer also called on the state government to consider
rehabilitation and compensation for the released individuals, citing the
emotional and economic toll of their long incarceration on their
families.
“Justice was delayed but not denied. Today marks the end of
a painful four-year ordeal. The light of justice has finally pierced the clouds
of oppression,” Ejiofor stated.
0 Comments