IPOB: Court Grants Bail To 51 Jewish Adherents Arrested In December

The High Court of Abia State yesterday granted bail to the 51 Jewish adherents arrested and detained in Umuahia just days before Christmas.

It was reported on several media outlets how 41 men and 10 women suspected to be members of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but operating as members of “Judaism’’, in Umuahia were arrested on 12th December.

The detainees which included ten women and several elderly men were charged and remanded for professing membership of IPOB and engaging in a public procession the authorities termed a terrorist act, Daily Times reports.

In the 51 separate bail applications filed by their Counsels, Barristers Aloy Ejimakor, Toni Nwofor and Augustine Ezeokeke, it was argued that the Charges were unknown to law; and even so, that the offenses charged were bailable. The High Court, in a special session convened for the purpose hearing the bail applications, heard the applications today and granted the detainees bail on the same lenient terms and conditions.

It will be recalled that Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, a special Counsel to IPOB, has led efforts throughout the Christmas period to get the matter quickly set before a court for hearing. It appears that the efforts paid off as the hearing was convened today specially for the matter, and while the Abia judiciary has not fully resumed work.