Court grants Uwazuruike, others bail

LAnre Adewole, Abuja - 16.05.2008

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday granted bail to the leader of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and 10 members of the group standing trial for treason.

They were arrested in 2006 and charged to a Federal High Court in Abuja by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Justice Binta Murtala Nyako, who initially handled the case, had denied all the accused bail, though Uwazuruike was released in October 2007 to bury his mother and return to prison January 2008.

Others granted bail are Chibuike Nwosu, 23, Benedict Alakwem, Chimankpa Okorocha, 19, Kelechi Ubabuike, 27, Ambrose Anyanso 46 and Augustine Ihuoma 40, Uchenna Madu 27, Vincent Ekwuazi 47 and Arinze Igbani, 29.

Uwazurike had already asked for an extension of the temporary bail to enable him perform post-burial rites, which the new trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello, had fixed for June 26.