Hearing on the treason case against 12 members of the Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, before a Federal High Court in Enugu, was stalled yesterday owing to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Dorothy Agishi.
As early as 8 am, the court was surrounded by over 50 stern looking policemen.
The suspects were later brought to the court 30 minutes later by prison officials, who were equally armed to the teeth.
The court had at the last date adjourned the matter to enable the counsel to the suspects, Olu Omotayo, argue a motion he had filed seeking for the bail of the Biafra activists.
Omotayo later told journalists that “the judge is not in court; so, we have no option than to take a new date. The court is already going on vacation to resume on January 19. We shall come back on the 9th of February to argue our motion for the bail of the suspects”.
“We were here last on December when to argue our bail application but we couldn’t go on because the Federal Government filed a counter affidavit. Consequently, the court adjourned to allow us file further affidavit in response to that; we have done that and we are ready to argue our motion for bail”.
It could be recalled that leader of the BZM, Barr. Benjamin Onwuka was arrested alongside 11 of his followers after a failed attempt to make a live broadcast at the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS.
The suspects were later moved to the Force Headquarters from the Enugu State Police Command.
They were detained for several months before the Federal Government moved them to Enugu where they were slammed with treason charges before the Federal High Court.
However, speaking to journalists, one of the members of the BZM, who spoke under anonymity accused the Federal Government of stalling the trial of their members.
“We know that they have a grand plan to perpetually keep our members in detention; it is unfortunate that this is happening, even against all known international treaties on human rights”, he alleged.
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