Twelve members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who had been detained since May 24, 2021, were released from prison custody on Thursday following a ruling by the Ebonyi State High Court. The release marks a significant legal breakthrough after close to four years of incarceration.
The news was announced by IPOB’s legal counsel, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, in a statement shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday.
The twelve individuals were part of a larger group of 36 IPOB members arrested in 2021. Although previously discharged and acquitted in earlier court rulings, they remained behind bars due to delays in executing the court’s judgments.
Their eventual release was made possible after the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) formally withdrew the most recent charges filed against them, in acknowledgment of prior judicial decisions.
“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,” Ejiofor wrote.
Describing the development as “a long-overdue respect for the rule of law,” Ejiofor confirmed that he personally oversaw the release process and that prison authorities acted swiftly in compliance with the court’s directive.
“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 added.
While twelve detainees have now regained their freedom, others from the original group remain in custody. However, Ejiofor remains optimistic about their prospects.
“Their release is no longer a matter of if but when, and that moment draws closer by the day,” he stated.
He concluded his statement with a resolute affirmation:
“Justice may be delayed, but it shall not be denied. Freedom must prevail.”
