After four long years behind bars, hope finally dawned for the last batch of 24 Biafran freedom fighters who had been standing trial since 2020 on charges of conspiracy and treason. On Thursday, an Ebonyi State High Court, presided over by Justice I. P. Chima, ordered their release, marking a powerful moment of relief, vindication, and justice for the accused and their families.
The 24 individuals—who were part of a group of 36—were first arrested on May 24, 2020. Since then, they had remained in custody, cycling through repeated court appearances and battling charges many believe should never have been filed in the first place. Despite being previously acquitted by multiple courts, they were repeatedly re-arraigned on the same facts, a situation that legal experts described as both unconstitutional and inhumane.
Their eventual acquittal came after their defence team, led by renowned human rights lawyer Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, raised a compelling preliminary objection. Ejiofor argued that the prolonged trial not only violated their fundamental rights, but also flew in the face of Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution, which protects against double jeopardy. The legal principle invoked—autrefois acquit—makes it clear: no one can be tried twice for the same offence after an acquittal.
Justice Chima agreed, delivering what many are calling a landmark ruling. He ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the defendants from the correctional centre, effectively ending a painful chapter that began in 2020.
Reacting to the verdict, Ejiofor did not hold back his emotions. He praised Justice Chima for his courage and clarity, describing him as “a bold, fearless and intellectually profound legal icon.” Ejiofor lamented the torment his clients had endured—calling them innocent citizens who suffered years of unconstitutional detention on charges they had already been cleared of, not once but multiple times by at least five different courts in the same state.
“This is a victory long overdue,” Ejiofor said. “Today’s ruling is not just a legal triumph; it is a restoration of hope, dignity, and justice. For four years, these men sat in cells, wrongfully accused and forgotten. But justice delayed is not justice denied.”
He concluded with heartfelt gratitude: “The light of justice has finally pierced through the dark clouds of oppression. Once again, to the Almighty God be all the glory—it can only be Him. With God, we have conquered. Justice has spoken. Freedom is restored. A new chapter begins.”
For the released men and their families, that chapter begins now—with the promise of healing, rebuilding, and reclaiming the years they lost.
