Three members of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have been arraigned in an Okigwe Magistrate Court, Imo State for treasonable felony. The three suspects were Messrs Linus iwuanya (57), Uzondu Madubuike (22) and Azubuike obiefule (28) In suit No. MOK/52c/2013 brought before the trial Chief Magistrate, Osuoha, prosecuting police officer, Inspector Godwin Nnorom alleged that the suspects among themselves conspired to commit felony, hoisting of Biafra flag in front of MASSOB office as well as belonging to an unlawful society called MASSOB.
The count one charge reads: that you Linus Iwuanya ‘m’, Uzondu Madubuike Obiefule ‘m’ and others now at large on or before April 18 at Okigwe in Okigwe Magisterial District conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit:- treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap ‘C38’ Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Imo State of Nigeria.
Count two read thus: that you Linus Iwuanya ‘m’, Uzondu Madubuike ‘m’, Azubuike Obiefule ‘m’ and others now at large on April 18 at Amamaduike Okigwe in Okigwe Magisterial District did hoist a Biafran flag in front of an office occupied by members of MASSOB with intent to levy war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 38 of the Criminal Code Cap ‘C38’ Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Imo State of Nigeria.
The third charge reads, that the accused persons and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did belong to unlawful society known and called MASSOB whose activity is disturbing or encouraging the disturbance of peace and order in Eastern part of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 64 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap ‘C38’ Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Imo State of Nigeria.
The counsel to the MASSOB members, Mr. Emma Chukwuka while applying for bail urged the court to look beyond treason charge on count one and critically examined count two and three that hinged on hoisting of Biafra flag in front of MASSOB office. He said there was no way hoisting of a piece of cloth any place could amount to treason, saying that there was no law in the country that had declared MASSOB as an unlawful group.
According to him, MASSOB had been known as non-violent group and no violence had been traced to the group since it started its agitation. He argued that the Niger Delta militias, who had killed and maimed Nigerians yet they were granted amnesty by the government and the current move by the same government to grant amnesty to members of Islamist sect, the Boko Haram. He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the suit and grant the suspects unconditionally bail.
The prosecutor opposed the bail on the ground that the charges were capital offence that should attract capital punishment. However, no plea was taken. The presiding magistrate remanded the suspects in prison custody and fixed today for ruling on bail application
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