Biafran separatism: MASSOB dissociates self from Onitsha violence

 A Federal High Court sitting in Yola presided by Justice Bilkisu Bello Aliyu,Friday’sentenced former Adamawa State commissioner for finance and Local government and chieftaincy affairs during Boni Haruna’s administration, John Elias to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

The judge also ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission to shut down his Company, ALHAKIM NIGERIA LIMITED as well as pay the state sum of N51.5 million which he stole while he held sway in office.

The presiding judge who delivered the judgement under section 3 (2) of the miscellaneous act said the judgement will serve as a deterrent to occupiers of public office holders who may want to filter resources meant for developmental projects.

Aliyu noted that Elias ought to have protected the public trust reposed in him by living above board but instead, he decided to flagrantly helped himself with resources of the state and hence have to be punished.

The judge convicted Elias on count 3 and 4 charges and imprisoned him to 10 years on each charge though the two convictions would run concurrently.

“I hereby sentenced the first accused, John Babani Elias for 10 years imprisonment on count 3 and another 10 years imprisonment on count 4 but the two sentences will run concurrently.

“In addition, the first convict must return/refund the sum of N51.5 million to Adamawa state local Government joint account fund from where it was stolen and diverted by him and his Coy.

“With regards to the second convict ALHAKIM NIGERIA LIMITED, I sentenced it to pay a fine of N5 million on the offenses in count 3 and 4 it is convicted of. In addition, the company would wound up by Corporate Affairs Commission as provided by section 3(2) of the miscellaneous offenses and all its assets forfeited to federal government of Nigeria,” Aliyu ordered.The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has dissociated itself from the last violence that erupted in the commercial city of Onitsha following agitation by a pro-Biafra group.

This comes on the heels of the arrest of seven persons suspected to be members of the Pro-Biafran group by the Ebonyi state police command for engaging in protests in front of the state government house.

In a statement signed by Gideon Iloke, John Nwifuru and Sunday Ezaka, the three zonal leaders of MASSOB in Ebonyi state, the group denied involvement in any violent protest in the cause of the struggle for the actualization of a Biafra state.

The MASSOB leaders also denied the seven persons arrested by the Ebonyi state police command in connection to the protest and a breach of public peace were associated the group, adding that MASSOB under Chief Ralph Uwazuuruike has remained a non violent group concerned with Igbo separatism.

According to Mr. Iloke, the MASSOB leader in charge of Ebonyi central zone, MASSOB is not against any group’s agitation for the actualization of a Biafra state but will not allow its name to be dragged to the mud by a group of miscreants using MASSOB’s name to commit all sorts of crimes.

He distanced MASSOB from recent protests by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in which many lives were lost, adding that they still maintain a non violent stance to realizing their goal, and called on those using MASSOB’s name to commit crimes to desist from it.

John Nwifuru, in charge of Ebonyi North, also denied that the seven persons arrested by the police for protesting at the government house gate were not members of MASSOB and should not be addressed as such and urged the police to carry out proper investigations about them and their mission.

He said MASSOB does not discriminate against any tribe in the country, adding that those who attacked Muslims or Hausa or Yoruba traders were not members of the movement.

They unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the leader of MASSOB, Chief Rlaph Uwazuruike, describing him as a man who has the capacity to pilot the affairs of the Biafra movement without spilling innocent blood.