Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has completely discharged and acquitted 50 persons alleged to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who were facing terrorism-related allegations.
In a judgment, Justice Omotosho explicitly held that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) comprehensively failed to establish any credible case against the defendants, which included four women.
The judge upheld the no-case submission presented by the defendants and struck out the three-count charge preferred against them.
The original charge, dated January 10 and filed on February 9, alleged that on December 12, 2023, at Umunze Village, Uga Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, the defendants were intercepted and arrested by Nigeria Police Force officers from Anambra State Police Command, led by Collins Eruogwu, along with a local vigilante group.
According to the police allegations, the defendants were found assembled inside a 911 truck with registration number XA-139 BDN, allegedly engaging in a meeting connected to terrorist activities.
The police claimed they discovered 48 black caps, 25 red caps, and six orange colour caps, all designed with IPOB emblems and accompanied by various charms.
The police further alleged that the defendants possessed “spiritual power of disappearing” while conducting terrorist transactions and that their gathering was “for the purpose of promoting illegality in order to terrorise the people of Anambra State.”
However, Justice Omotosho categorically rejected these allegations, ruling that the prosecution failed to adduce any credible evidence linking the defendants to the charges.
The judgment effectively dismantled the prosecution’s case, which was originally initiated by the Inspector-General of Police.
