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Court Clears IPOB Leader Of Terrorism Charges, Awards N5m Damages Against FG

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A Federal High Court 1 sitting in Owerri, Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo has cleared the Head of Directorate of State of Indigenous People of Biafra, Chika Edoziem, of charges related to terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping and violent criminal activities.

Justice Oweibo delivered the judgment in Suit No: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024, between Mazi Chika Edoziem Vs Hon. Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff and consequently declared as “illegal”, the designation of Edoziem as a wanted person, terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper and violent criminal by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.

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The ruling affirms that the March 22, 2024, publication of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s First Edition of 2024, as a security threat, was done in “gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity of the human person, and as such, unconstitutional”.

In the charge sheet obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, His Lordship, further directed the Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff to immediately retract the unconstitutional declaration of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a “terrorist”, “insurgent”, “kidnapper”, “violent criminal” and “wanted person”, and to issue an unreserved public apology in two national newspapers to Mazi Chika Edoziem.

READ ALSO: Police Storm IPOB/ESN Camps In Imo, Kill 6 Including 3 Wanted Kingpins

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The court also awarded ₦5 million in damages to Mazi Chika Edoziem for the infringement of his fundamental right to the dignity of the human person.

Notably, among the many names listed in the said notice, Mazi Chika Edoziem was the only one who successfully challenged the publication or inclusion of his name in the offending publication.

Edoziem is the next in the rank to the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

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Reacting to the development, the lead counsel for IPOB, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has hailed the Federal High Court 1, for the “landmark” judgment clearing the Head of Directorate of State of IPOB, Mazi Chika Edoziem, of charges related to terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and violent criminal activities.

Edoziem is the next in the rank to the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court Declines Trump’s Request To Reinstate Birthright Citizenship Order

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Ejiofor, in a statement on Thursday, described the ruling as “historic” and “landmark”, saying that the judgment is a strong statement against unjust profiling and underscores the importance of due process in security matters.

He said, “Security agencies must focus on proper profiling to identify actual criminals rather than targeting innocent citizens. The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility beyond just the security forces.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my dedicated colleagues in Chambers whose relentless efforts made this victory possible. Special thanks to Ezigbo Umuchineke for their unwavering support and prayers, whose peaceful conduct has enabled seamless defence in matters affecting genuine and peaceful agitators.

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“Above all, I thank Almighty God for His guidance and protection throughout the proceedings.

“Justice has prevailed.”

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Metro

BREAKING: Benue IDPs block Highway, Demand Return To Ancestral Homes

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Vehicular movement along the Yelwata axis of the Benue–Nasarawa highway was brought to a standstill on Wednesday as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, staged a protest, demanding immediate return to their ancestral homes.

The protesters, believed to be victims of persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen, blocked both lanes of the busy highway for several hours, chanting “We want to go back home”.

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The protest caused disruption, leaving hundreds of motorists and passengers stranded.

Eyewitnesses said the displaced persons, many of whom have spent years in overcrowded IDP camps, are expressing deep frustration over the government’s delay in restoring security to their communities.

READ ALSO:Gunmen Abduct 6 Law School Students In Benue

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We have suffered enough. We want to return to our homes and farms,” one of the protesters told reporters at the scene.

Security personnel were reportedly deployed to monitor the situation and prevent any escalation, though tensions remained high as of press time.

Efforts to reach the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and other relevant authorities for comment were unsuccessful.

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‘Nigerians Must Go,’ Ghanaians Protest Alleged Prostitution, Ritual Killings

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Some Ghanaians have protested against Nigerians for allegedly engaging in mass prostitution and ritual killings in their country.

In a viral video on Tuesday, the protesters in their large numbers, were seen wielding placards with various inscriptions such as “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop; “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution; “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians; “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals; “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,” among others.

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They also displayed a picture of a man who was allegedly killed by a Nigerian in the Accra area of the country.

Speaking in the video, a lady in her mid-30s said Nigerians must go because of their anyhowness in their country.

READ ALSO:Ghanaians Protest, Decry ‘State-sponsored’ Harassment In Abuja

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Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow. Nigerians must go,” she yelled.

Another protester said Nigerians have taken over their major markets and are perpetrating evil of sorts in their country.

These Igbo, they are in every part of the country and have targeted our markets. Not just Igbo, Nigerians are in almost every village, and our laws have not allowed foreigners to engage in real dealings. They are perpetrating evil in our country. They even have a Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country,” he stressed.

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Recall that a similar occurrence popularly christened “Ghana must go” happened in 1983 when the Nigerian government under President Shehu Shagari enacted a directive ordering about two million undocumented immigrants, many of whom were Ghanaians, to leave the country.

READ ALSO:June 12 Protest: Security Operatives Barricade N’Assembly Gate

If they don’t leave, they should be arrested, tried and sent back to their homes.

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“Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever. If you break a law, then you have to pay for it,” the President had said.

This action gave birth to a checked bag called “Ghana must go” into which the Ghanaians packed their belongings, and in turn became a symbol of exclusion and intolerance.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ghanaian government has yet to comment on the situation and the plight of their countrymen on returning Nigerians to their country, irrespective of their status.

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Gunmen Shoot, Abduct Anambra Bizman

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Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted a businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, at the Okpuno community in the Awka area of Anambra State.

A security expert, Zagazola Makama, made this known via his X handle on Monday.

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According to him, the attackers invaded the victim’s residence around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, shot him in the leg, and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

He further stated that Onyekere is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and the son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

READ ALSO:Anambra Guber: No Competition, Other Candidates Just Raising Funds – Soludo

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He wrote, “Armed men abducted a prominent Anambra businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, on Saturday night in Okpuno community near Awka, shooting him in the leg before taking him to an unknown location.

“Onyekere, who is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, was reportedly attacked at about 10:30 p.m. at his residence in Ezinifite Village, a remote part of the town.

“Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who arrived in an ash-coloured Lexus SUV, forced their way into the compound, shot the victim in the leg, and fled with him in his own navy blue Toyota Corolla. The vehicle’s registration number remains unknown.”

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While quoting sources, he stated that the assailants escaped through bush paths in the direction of Nawfia, sparking fear among residents.

READ ALSO:Three Rescued As Police Foil Kidnap Plot In Anambra

Local volunteers and security watch groups were also said to have been combing the area in search of the victim, while efforts are being made to trace his phone and contact the abductors.

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When contacted, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, requested a text. The text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

The PUNCH reported in June that a 24-year-old suspect, Muanaenye Victor, was arrested for luring his friend to be kidnapped by his criminal gang.

READ ALSO:Anambra Revenue Service Faults Obi’s Claim On Brewery’s Tax Ranking

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The suspect was said to have planned the kidnapping and collected a ransom in dollars, the equivalent of N5.3m, with his gang members before the victim was released.

Ikenga, however, disclosed that police operatives attached to the Uli Divisional Headquarters arrested the suspect, who also helped the police by providing information to help apprehend his accomplices.

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