Nigeria: MASSOB condemns imprisonment of members
The members were jailed for wearing the regalia of the defunct Republic of Biafra.
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the conviction of its members by a Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Six MASSOB members were sentenced to six months imprisonment by Magistrate S. C. Ehikwe for wearing the regalia of the defunct Republic of Biafra.
Speaking with reporters in Onitsha, Anambra State, MASSOB’s Director of Information Uchenna Madu faulted the judgment. He said it was influenced by sentiments, rather than the rule of law.
Describing the judgment as “a violation of the fundamental rights of the affected persons”, Uchenna said it was unimaginable to jail someone for wearing a particular regalia. He alleged that the magistrate allowed his “personal and deep seated hatred” for MASSOB to influence his judgment”.
Uchenna said: “The magistrate’s pathological hatred for Biafra was not supposed to manifest in the judgment. We demand that Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the state’s Attorney-General intervene and ensure that the judgment is set aside.”
MASSOB’s Regional Administrator, Onitsha Region 4, Chief Arinze Igbani, said members were directed by their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, to wear Biafra regalia as a symbol of identification.
He said: “As a Movement, we are not violent and are not armed like other militia groups across the country. Our only symbol of the peaceful struggle is our regalia.”
Igbani argued that Uwazuruike has never been convicted by any court for his open stand on Biafra and the adoption of the regalia.
He said many people wear clothes with symbols of their bodies and nationalities without harassment.
Igbani said no amount of convictions, killings, imprisonment and harassment will deter MASSOB members from the struggle.