Again court remands 15 more IPOB women

Despite the outcry against the arrest and arraignment of members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), the Imo State Police command yesterday arraigned another 15 women, who have been remanded at the Owerri prisons on the orders of a Magistrate court.

The prosecutor, Caleb Achi told the court that two of the women had slumped on Monday and were rushed to the hospital, while the other 13 women could not be arraigned last Monday because the police personnel handling their file, did not tidy up their file early.

This makes the total number of remanded persons 127, out of which are five men, all on a eight count charge.

The 15 women are: Chinyere Ubani; Precious Anyanwu; Nwaka John; Nwadike Chinyere; Chika Uruagwu; Ifeanyi Florence; Chinedu Chibuzo; Cynthia Okoroagwu; Paulina Iroanya Ntizi Josephine; Blessing Nwelele; Chinyere Achonna; Nneka Okoro; Magrate Eze; and Ijeoma Nwafor. 

Part of the charges read “That on August 17 , 2018 , within the Owerri magisterial district , with intent to carry out some common purpose , assembled in such a manner as to cause persons in the neighbourhood to fear on reasonable grounds that the persons so assembled will tumultuously disturb the peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 70 of the Criminal Code".

Further it read, "that you and others now at large did in a public place , conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by unlawfully obstructing the flow of traffic and other business and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Act".

“ That you did , assemble yourselves together and publicly exhibited banners , emblems , flags or symbols of Indigenous people of Biafra and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 88 ( b ) of the Criminal Code".

The women all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Presiding magistrate, S.K. Kadurumba who refused jurisdiction over the matter, directed that the case file be sent to the State Ministry of Justice for advise.

Thereafter, the matter was adjourned to Monday, September 3rd for hearing.

Meanwhile, following over population of the prison, 25 out of the IPOB women have been transferred to Okigwe prison, because the facilities have been overstretched.

A prison source who pleaded anonymity told The Authority Daily that the women were moved to Okigwe prison which is still under the State command of the Nigerian prisons.