IPOB Lawyer Criticizes Secret Terrorism Trial Of Igbo Youths
Human rights lawyer and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has raised concerns over ongoing terrorism-related proceedings involving detained Igbo youths at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He said the handling of the cases points to possible violations of constitutional protections and fair hearing rights.
Ejiofor alleged that several of the accused have been kept in detention for years without trial and later brought before the court under conditions he described as unusual and lacking transparency.
He also claimed that some defendants were pressured to admit guilt during the proceedings, raising questions about the voluntary nature of their pleas.
The lawyer further stated that members of his legal team were reportedly prevented from representing some of the defendants and, in some instances, faced threats of arrest while in court.
He maintained that such actions weaken the right of accused persons to legal representation and fair defence under Nigerian law.
He urged that constitutional safeguards remain binding regardless of the allegations involved, insisting that due process must guide all criminal trials.
Ejiofor added that prolonged detention without trial undermines justice and damages both individuals and their families, calling for strict adherence to legal procedures in all terrorism-related cases.
