Enugu High Court, grants Onwuka, 100 pro-Biafra group members bail

AN Enugu High Court, Tuesday, granted bail to leader of the pro-
Biafran movement, Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM), Mr. Benjamin Onwuka,
and 100 members of the group who were arrested by the police on
November 5, 2012, after re-declaring the Republic of Biafra in Enugu.
Presiding Judge, Justice L. Okereke granted the Biafran activists bail
in the sum of N1,000,000,(one million naira) with a surety who must be
a civil servant above grade level 14, a member of the National
Assemblyfrom the South East Zone or a member of the State House of
Assembly as well as a reputable traditional ruler.
Defence counsel to BZM, Okologu Njoku, had while moving the bail
application, told the court that hisclients did not commit any crime
against the state as they were notcaught with any weapon of
destruction as gun, axe, club, machete, etc.
Onwuka and his supporters werearraigned before an Enugu Magistrate
Court on November 5 on a one count-charge of attempting to wage war
against the state and were subsequently remanded in Enugu Prison since
the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Speaking with newsmen after thecourt ruling, the second in command to
the detained BZM leader, Mr. Samuel Edeson pointedout that Nigeria did
not deserve to be among the comity of nations where human rights are
being observed because, according to him, Nigeria violate human rights
of its citizens, hence their agitation for self-rule and autonomy.
"We were intimidated, arrested and detained because we aired our
views. We said what we believed; we don't believe in Nigeria, we
believe in Biafra. We are not hiding, we know definitely that one day,
Biafra will be actualized," Comrade Edeson states."
Hundreds of men and women believed to be supporters of the detained
pro-Biafra members stormed the court in solidarity with the activists
who they said were fighting for the emancipation of the people of
South East.
It would be recalled that the group under the aegis of Biafra Zionist
Movement had converged on an open field in Coal Camp area of Enugu
where their leader,Mr. Ben Onwuka, addressed themon November 5.
Policemen led by the Enugu Central Police Station Divisional Police
Officer, Mr. Ike Mba, arrested Onwuka and members of his group, who
displayed Biafran , American and Israeli flags during a procession
that preceded the re-declaration of Biafra Republic.
SOURCE: Vanguard Nigeria