A high court sitting in Owerri on Friday granted the unconditional release of 112 women alleged to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group.
The women who were remanded on the orders of a magistrate’s court in Owerri were arrested on Friday August 17 by the police for demanding to know the whereabouts of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
They were also held for unlawful assembly.
NAN reports that the bail application filed by the lead counsel to the women, Ejiofor Uche was not opposed by the police..
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Theaddus Oke, prosecuting for the police, told NAN correspondent that the case had been referred to the state Ministry of Justice for advice.
He said that the police had no say in whatever decision that was taken by the court.
NAN recalls that the arrests sparked off widespread condemnation by residents of the state and sympathisers of IPOB.
And on social media there were calls for the women to be released by local and international pressure groups.
So far there is no evidence to indicate that the protesting women had committed any acts that would justify their arrest or the criminal charges. The use of tear gas by the police to disperse the women was also an unnecessary and disproportionate act. #FreeOwerri112
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) August 24, 2018
What manner of government would arrest unarmed women ventilating their rights and seeking action from their elected representatives and public servants. We join every person of good conscious to say #FreeOwerri112 #MothersNotMurderers @ChidiOdinkalu @CSOHUBNG pic.twitter.com/cI8DsQyEqY
— Women Africa (@WomenAfrica35) August 23, 2018
