A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted 50 individuals who were alleged to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice James Omotosho, came after the Nigerian Police Force failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused, including four women.
Justice Omotosho upheld the no-case submission filed by the defendants, ruling that the prosecution had not presented credible evidence to link them to the terrorism-related charges. As a result, the judge struck out the three-count charge brought against the defendants, which had been filed by the Inspector-General of Police under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/8/2024.
The accused were alleged to have gathered in a truck with registration number XA-139 BDN, where they were supposedly engaged in a meeting linked to terrorist activities. The police claimed that the individuals possessed various items, including 48 black caps, 25 red caps, 6 orange-colored caps, all bearing IPOB emblems, along with charms. The authorities further alleged that the gathering was meant to promote illegal activities with the aim of terrorizing people in Anambra state.
However, the court found that the prosecution's case lacked sufficient evidence, leading to the acquittal and discharge of the defendants.
