A high court in Owerri on
Friday evening released the 112 IPOB women, who were arrested during a protest
in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The women were arrested
while peacefully protesting the ‘arrest’ of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu and also
demanding a referendum before the 2019 elections.
They were subsequently
arraigned at a Magistrate Court by the Police, and charged with “treasonable
felony” and “unlawful assembly”.
Public outcry followed
their arraignment and bail denial, with civil society organisations and other
stakeholders, demanding their immediate release.
The women were remanded by
a magistrate’s court in Owerri on Monday and Thursday respectively, after they
were arrested and arraigned by the Police for demanding to know the whereabouts
of missing IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kalu.
The bail application filed
by the lead counsel to the women, Ejiofor Uche, was not opposed, as the Police
had no representation in court.
The court had granted the
bail application, and freed the women unconditionally.
Their release sparked off
wild jubilation on the court premises and within Owerri, the state capital.
The Police prosecutor,
Theaddus Okay, told Punch Nigeria that the Police had no representation because
the matter had been referred to the state ministry of justice for legal counsel
and decision.
He said that the Police had
no powers in whatever decision that was taken subsequently.
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