Twelve members of the Indigenous People of Biafra who had been detained since May 24, 2021, have finally regained their freedom following a ruling by the Ebonyi State High Court.
Their release, which took place on Thursday, comes after the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution formally withdrew the charges against them. The 12 individuals were part of a group of 36 IPOB members arrested in 2021.
Although several court rulings had previously discharged and acquitted them, delays in enforcing the decisions kept them behind bars. The latest development, however, marked a significant breakthrough in their case.
“This long-awaited victory was made possible after the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution acknowledged repeated judicial decisions and withdrew the fresh charges,” said IPOB’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
Ejiofor described the move as a “long-overdue respect for the rule of law,” adding that he personally ensured the release order was implemented by the correctional authorities.
“Our legal team was on ground to confirm that the prison authorities complied with the court order,” he stated.
Despite the development, Ejiofor noted that other IPOB members who had similarly been acquitted by multiple High Courts in Ebonyi State remain in detention. However, he expressed optimism about their imminent release.
“We are not backing down. Our team is fully committed to securing the release of the remaining detainees who have also been discharged by no fewer than four different courts,” he said.
According to him, their eventual freedom is inevitable: “It is no longer a question of if they will be released, but when. That moment is drawing closer every day.”
Ejiofor concluded by reaffirming his faith in the justice system: “Justice may be delayed, but it cannot be denied. In the end, freedom must and will prevail.”
