A Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday arraigned 20 pro-Biafra supporters following Tuesday’s protest over the arrest of Radio Biafra director, Nnamdi Kanu. The supporters, whose sympathisers besieged the court, were later remanded in prison custody for conspiracy and treason. The accused persons who were arrested and arraigned in court by police officers from Zone 6 are facing three-count charges in Suit Number PMC/1195c/2015. The accused include Benson Sunday, Emmanuel Ali, Ukeme Monday, Chibuzor Eechina, Charles Eze, Egbo Okechukwu, Chibona Ifion, John Douglas, Ezenwa Alphonus, Wori Endurance, Chinomere Nwolu, Henry Eze, Friday Uzunwa, Igbodo Abio, Akaniyene Uwem, Eni Iboro, Obinna Stephen, Monday Ocha, Obinna Ibekwe and Kingsley Ezengorie. Accused persons were arrested on Tuesday while on demonstration in Port Harcourt to air their grievance over the detention of Kanu. Mr A. A. Ajagha is the prosecutor in the matter. According to count one of the charge, the accused persons were said to have without lawful authority demonstrated and chanted war songs that ‘House is not part of Biafra’ which caused panic in the oil-rich city, on reasonable grounds with intent to intimidate or cause panic within the state and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004. Count two while listing the suspects names and others at large, stated that they ‘‘On October 20, 2015 at about 1400hours at Ikwerre road, Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did willfully and unlawfully damage the Nigerian flag hoisted at Zenith Bank Plc Ikoku branch, Port Harcourt and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.” Ugwueze I.O, Destiny S.I. Chima and other three lawyers who represented the accused persons applied for the bail. Ruling on the bail application, the trial Chief Magistrate, S.D. Andrew- Jaja, said his court lacks jurisdiction to try the matter, but following the arguments of the accused lawyers he adjourned the case till October 27 to enable the counsel address the court on the issue of bail. The Chief Magistrate further remanded the accused persons in prison custody pending the adjourned date. http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/20-pro-biafra-supporters-remanded-in-prison/
