COURT REJECTS BAIL FOR BIAFRAN SEPERATISTS

EMOTION was high on Thursday, in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, following the Federal High Court rejection to grant bail to the leader of the detained Biafran Zionist Federation (BZF), Ben Onwuka and 10 others for the second time.

Onwuka, a legal practitioner and his cohorts, had been standing treason trial since September 2014, for allegedly attempting to declare an independent state of Biafra, in a live broadcast at radio studio of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS).
Amidst presence of security operatives, who were all overthe court premises, as well as inside the court hall, Justice Dorcas Agishi, the trial judge, declined to grant bail application moved by the defence counsel to the accused.
Justice Agishi, while delivering judgment on the bail application, refused to grant the bail sought by the defence counsel because of the prevailing political climate in the country, as well as the fact that he could not guarantee that when granted bail, the accused would not continue with their agitation.
The case was, therefore, adjourned till March 19 for the prosecution to commence.
Counsel to the separatists, Olu Omotayo, told newsmen outside the court room that they were disappointed for not getting bail for their clients who he described as ‘peaceful, non-violent freedom fighters. ‘
Omotayo said he would consult with his clients on the way forward in the case since they could not get bail on the premise that the prevailing political situation in the country might not allow for the release of his clients as well as the fact that court could not guarantee that when grant bail, his clients would not continue with their agitation.
“I am disappointed that the court could not grant them bail. However, I’ll consult with my clients on the way forward as the case has been adjourned till March 19,” he said.
In a joint interview, the national coordinator of BZF, Gilbert Ogbu and the national chairman of the group, Cyril Onyia ,said they were disappointed that their men could not get bail as they are non-violent group.
It was learnt that the detained members of the pro-Biafran group would have gained their freedom but Onwuka and his colleagues refused to denounce their agitation if set free.