A high court in Ebonyi State has ordered the release of 12 members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), who had been held in detention since May 24, 2021.
The ruling came on Thursday after the Ebonyi State government withdrew the final charges against them.
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the legal representative for the IPOB members, confirmed the development in a statement on Facebook.
He explained that these 12 individuals were part of a group of 36 IPOB members who have been incarcerated since 2021, and previous court rulings had already acquitted them of the charges.
“On April 10, 2025, history was made in the Ebonyi State High Court as 12 Biafran detainees, part of the 36 held since May 24, 2021, were finally freed, in line with successive court orders discharging and acquitting them of all charges,” Ejiofor wrote.
He explained that the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) formally withdrew the latest charge against the individuals, acknowledging prior judicial rulings.
The move was hailed as a victory for the rule of law and a recognition of the detainees’ innocence, which had been upheld by the courts on multiple occasions.
Ejiofor further stated, “As directed by the court, I personally ensured the handover of the freed individuals, and the prison authorities complied promptly.”
The legal team has expressed continued commitment to securing the release of the remaining detainees, who have also been acquitted by multiple courts in Ebonyi State.
Ejiofor concluded, “Their release is not a question of if, but when. Justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied.”
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