Twelve members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who had been imprisoned since May 24, 2021, were finally released on Thursday, April 10, following a ruling by the Ebonyi State High Court.
The release was confirmed in a statement by IPOB’s legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who posted the update on his Facebook page.
The freed individuals were among 36 IPOB members arrested in 2021. Although they had been previously discharged and acquitted by courts, bureaucratic delays kept them in detention until now.
Ejiofor explained that the breakthrough came after the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution withdrew the latest charges against them.
“This victory follows a formal application by the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who, in acknowledgement of repeated judicial pronouncements, withdrew the latest charge filed against these 12 individuals,” he stated.
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He described the release as “a long-overdue respect for the rule of law,” adding that he personally oversaw the process to ensure the prison authorities obeyed the court order.
While celebrating the development, Ejiofor noted that many other IPOB members remain in detention despite multiple court rulings in their favour.
“Our legal team remains relentless and fully committed to securing the freedom of the remaining detainees—men who have also been discharged and acquitted by no fewer than four different High Courts in Ebonyi State,” he said.
Though their freedom is yet to be realised, he expressed confidence that their release is imminent. “Their release is no longer a matter of if but when, and that moment draws closer by the day,” he said.
Ejiofor concluded with a firm belief in justice: “Justice may be delayed, but it shall not be denied. Freedom must prevail.”