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Onyekachi Orji & Co: 28 years in Onitsha prison for Biafra ~ a failed judiciary, invitation to anarchy

By Onuoha E. Onuoha

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Mrs Onyekachi Orji & Co have stayed a total of 28 years of jail for the sake Biafra and thus are victims of a decayed Judicial process in Nigeria where adjournments is a tactical tool for frustrating cases to deliberately keep remanding detainees in protracted detention.

Within that 28 years of jail term which is practically fourteen years plus; she gave birth to her first child in detention.

She was arrested in 11 April, 2007 and taken to Onitsha prison and has added 12 years to her age as at the time of arrest and yet no sign of her release or pity from those that took in a pregnant mother whose only crime was marrying a Biafran activists.’

She was said to have committed treasonable felony for marrying an activist that was declared wanted by Nigeria. A marriage that happened long before her husband was declared wanted for leading a Biafran movement.

In the year 1999, as her potential husband was still in service; he was served a letter to train all Biafran peaceful forces. When the letter came to him; he agreed and took up the job without hesitation, believing it was his fate to serve- help ressurect the nation that slept in 1967.

In May 22, 2000, he hoisted Biafra flag in 175, Fox Road, opposite powerline, Aba and helped the ascension of Ralph Uwazurike as the Biafran Leader, he had no interest in leadership but to get a job done in a proper way and according to his professional belief.

In the year 2004; things began to fall apart between him and the man at the helm and all Biafran security personnel followed him while some went the other way and it affected his potential move towards Biafra restoration. He was of the idea that separation of power is needed to avoid absolute corruption.

By 2006 he has established Eastern Coalition Force which metamorphosed to Biafra National Guard (BNG) in 2007 and launched Biafra Shadow Government which was a move aimed at drawing Biafra closer. By then; he was marked wanted by the federal government of Nigerian and the game got sour.

He had just concluded his wedding to Miss Onyekachi who had has just become Mrs Onyekachi Orji and the newly bride to face the journey of marriage. She took in within the first year and in the 9th month of the pregnancy; she was arrested by Nigerian DSS and charged with treasonable felony for being the wife of a suspected felon.

Most people suggested that she was arrested to force her husband who has been declared wanted to surface. But like a joke; she was charged to court with treasonable felony and detained, her husband finally surfaced and surrendered himself but she was not released.

Few weeks after her arrest; she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl named Princess Orji in Onitsha prison and she was going to challenge her detention in the court but every effort to get the matter in the court proved abortive and futile. After one year in detention; her husband was brought to the same prison with her, they both worked for legal battle.

She had asked her captors what was exactly the ingredient of the treasonable felony she was charged with but none of them could answer. Some whispered that for marrying a man that dare carry out activities to divide Nigeria, that she has committed treasonable felony.

She had stated that she is not a member of Biafra National Guard or MASSOB but just a wife to the leader of one of the groups and as a matter of fact, she is focused on her family and not dividing Nigeria but her captors turned deaf ears.

There were rumours back then in 2006 that she was arrested to stir emotional trauma for her husband who was declared wanted and also to make sure that the entire family of the suspect was affected to serve as lesson to others.

12 years after; the prosecution is unable to prove that she committed treasonable felony by marrying a Biafran activist and in that same twelve years, she has been frustrated that she was not allowed to defend herself in the court following frustrating of adjournments.

There in Onitsha prison; she is now the longest awaiting trial inmate with 28 years of jail term without Justice.

The Civil Rights Advocates of Nigeria otherwise known as Saving Lives Initiative hereby call on the concerned handlers to release immediately and unconditionally Mrs. Onyekachi Orji & 18 Co-Defendants remanded in Onitsha and Awka prisons respectively viz; hearing for 16 years in Onitsha and Awka prisons respectively viz; Mrs. Onyekachi Orji, Miss Okwudiri Bassey, Uche Idikaigbo, Micheal Okezie, Uchenna Nicholas, Peter Igbokwe, Ikechukwu Aghara, Chima Asor, and Chinweike Irondi. Others are Sabastine Amadi, Casmir Odakara, Ojemba Anyanwu, Eni Kalu, Ndubuisi Okam, Ikechukwu Chinwem, Emmanuel Orji, Chukwuma Kalu, Chidiebere Chikwem and Mmaduabuchi Asika.

It is disappointing that today that was supposed to be the Judgement was also tactically fraustrated from the powers that be in Abuja.

Of course, Justice delayed is Justice denied as the Nigeria judiciary has on more than frequent occasions proved that they are not independent. The rape of Judiciary, is invitation of anarchy.

Onuoha E. Onuoha, [B.Sc (Hons), Ed., Pol. Sc., UNN]; Political Scientist/ Analyst, Rights Activist, Independent Investigative Reporter, Writer and Journalist. Email: rancytrendy@gmail.com.

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