Seven persons suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have been arrested and charged before a Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Aba, Abia State.
The suspects, which include Chinonso Ude, Maduabuchi Echereodo, Ukochukwu Ikechukwu, Okechukwu Daniel, Okezie Jeremiah, Chizuruoke Nwanmuo and Ifeanyi Sunday, will be charged for murder and arson.
Th Court directed that the suspects remain remanded after being arraigned on a 12 counts charge bordering on the murder of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Syril Nwosu, and the setting ablaze of Ariaria Police Station, alongside side cars recovered as exhibits.
The suspects are also charged with theft of Pump Action rifles.
In the charge, marked MAN/ 132/ C/2017 and MAN/ 133C/2017, presented before the court by the prosecuting counsel, ASP Nnamdi Ogbonna, the police alleged, “That you, Chinonso Ude, Maduabuchi Echereodo, Ukochukwu Ikechukwu, Okechukwu Daniel, Ifeanyi Sunday, Okezie Jeremiah, Chizuruoke Nwazuo and others now at large, did have in your possession or control offensive weapons as members of the IPOB which you used to terrorise the public and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 10(1)(a) of the Abia State Prohibition of Terrorism, Kidnapping, Hostage-taking, the use of offensive weapon or explosives and Other Threatening Behavior Law No. 10 of 2009.
The Ariaria Police Station was razed down in the early hours of last week Thursday and members of IPOB were reported to be responsible.
The incident happened after the military launched the Operation Python Dance II to combat crime and social vices in the South-East.
Counsel for the first, second and sixth accuse, Charles Onuchukwu, while applying for his clients’ bail, argued that the Magistrate Court did not have jurisdiction to entertain a case of murder, terrorism and kidnapping.
Reacting, the Prosecutor said the Court equally lacked jurisdiction to make order on the matter.
After listening to the arguments of the Counsel, the Magistrate, Ogbonna Adiele, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in the Aba prison and adjourned the case till September 27, 2017 for plea and ruling.