The eleven members of the pro-Biafra activists standing trial at the Enugu Federal High Court have accused the presiding judge, Justice Dorothy Agishi of bias, urging her to disqualify herself from handling the matter.
Leader of the group, Biafra Zionist Federation, Barr. Benjamin Onwuka and ten others have been standing trial before the court over treason charges.
The prosecution had at the last adjourned date prayed the court to discontinue public trial of the suspects in order to protect its witnesses.
His motion was, however, opposed by the defence counsel, Olu Omotayo, who argued that secret trial of the suspects would lead to miscarriage of justice.
In its ruling on the matter, Wednesday, the court granted the prayers of the prosecution counsel, though it held that accredited members of the press would be allowed at the trial sessions.
Angered by the ruling, one of the suspects, Onwuka, who sought the attention of the court, accused Justice Agishi of bias, noting that all the rulings of the court, including the ruling on their bail application, showed that the Judge was not ready to dispense justice.
The defence counsel, who was also not satisfied with the ruling announced his intention to withdraw from the matter.
The court, however, insisted that he should file a written application announcing his formal withdrawal from the matter.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, enraged Omotayo described the ruling of the court as a miscarriage of justice.
“We cannot be party to secret trial of these people; the court said accredited members of the press would be allowed during the trial, but our question is- who will have the responsibility of accrediting them? So, you can see that the entire thing boils down to secret trial.
“We are going to comply with the ruling; so before the next adjourned date, we shall file a written application indicating our intention to withdraw from the matter.
“Before that time also, the accused persons will also write formally to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, praying him to transfer the matter to another judge”, Omotayo stated.
Similarly, the national president of BZF, Comrade Onyia Cyril, described the court’s decision as “a further infringement on the fundamental rights of non-violent activists”.
Onyia added that “exactly one year ago, these freedom fighters have been in detention over treason charges, even when they did nothing wrong except that they are fighting for the liberation of Ndigbo.
“I call on our people across the world as well as all rights organizations to come to the rescue of these men who are being incarcerated unjustly”.
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