Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has dragged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Commissioner of Police Enugu State to court over the prolonged detention of 12 members of Biafran Zionist Federation at the Police Headquarters Abuja without trial.

The BZF members were arrested by the police on June 5, this year at the premises of Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) while forcefully trying to make a live broadcast, to declare Republic of Biafra.

The incident claimed the lives of a policeman and a member of the secessionist group, which had earlier attempted to seize Enugu State Government House.

A statement by CLO Zonal Director, Olu Omotayo, on Friday reads: “We have filed an action on behalf of the detained members of Biafran Zionist Federation (BZF), who have been detained at the Police headquarters, Abuja, since over three months ago, without trial.

“The suit FHC/EN//157/2014, was filed at the at the Federal High Court, Enugu, on behalf of the following Applicants: Benjamin Onwuka (Leader of the Movement), Kelvin Eke, Samson Ijaga, Uduma Uduma, Bethrain Obiekwe,Abraham Ugwu, Paulinus Uzoegbu, Fidelis Nwaano, Nnamchi Ndubuisi, Michael Olennya, Jeophet Nwaodo and Aloysius Chukwuma.

“The suit was filed against the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police Enugu State, as the Respondents. The Applicants are Nigerian citizen, members of Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF), a peaceful movement for the liberation of Biafrans, and are all presently detained at Police Force headquarters, Abuja. In the present action we sought the following prayers on behalf of the Applicants:

“A declaration that the continued detention of the Applicants at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, by respondents since the 7th day of June 2014, without trial, constitutes a flagrant violation of the applicants fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 34, 35 and 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 5, 6 & 7, of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement Act) Cap. A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

•Text courtesy of Saturday Independent. Photo shows some of the detained Biafra Zionist Federation chiefs while being paraded by the police after their arrest in June.