Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted 50 individuals, including four women, who were accused of being members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and charged with terrorism.
The court held that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) failed to establish credible evidence linking the defendants to the charges against them.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the prosecution did not present sufficient proof to connect the accused to acts of terrorism, upholding the defendants’ no-case submission and striking out the three-count charge.
The allegations, filed by the Inspector-General of Police, claimed that the defendants were arrested on December 12, 2023, in Umunze Village, Anambra State, while allegedly engaging in a gathering related to acts of terrorism.
Police also alleged possession of items such as caps emblazoned with the IPOB emblem and charms purportedly used for spiritual purposes.
Justice Omotosho dismissed the claims due to a lack of substantive evidence, stressing the prosecution’s failure to prove their case.
