9 IPOB members to stand trial for treason, murder

Nine suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been charged to court in Rivers state with a host of criminal acts including treason, murder, and armed robbery.

The suspects were dragged before the Chief Magistrate's court sitting in Port Harcourt accused of alleged involvement in the killing of police officer, Sergeant Steven Daniel.

The officer was killed at Oyigbo Junction in the state capital in what is believed to be a reprisal attack following the reported attacks on members of the separatist group by soldiers in Abia state.

Two other people reportedly died in the attack while the state's Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, confirmed that two other police officers were injured and a patrol vehicle burnt by the suspects.

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The nine suspects, alongside 21 other IPOB members facing trial for causing unrest in the state, stood in front of presiding chief magistrate, Amadi O. Amadi-Nna, on Thursday, September 14, for remand proceedings.

In two separate charge sheets, PMC/1936c/2017 and PMC/1935c/2017, they were charged with treason, murder, armed robbery, felony, unlawful assembly, and unlawful protest.

The crimes the suspects are charged with are violations of Section 69, Section 70, and Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Justice Law in Rivers state.

However, the defendants were not read the charges against them or requested to enter their pleas after defence counsel, Donald Loho, argued that the court didn't have jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Amadi-Nna ordered the court registrar to remit the case files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice and adjourned the case till an indefinite date.