Ipob steps up action to prevent its members arrested in Ghana from being deported to Nigeria

INDIGENOUS People of Biafra's (Ipob) lawyer Aloy Ejimakor has stepped up legal action to prevent several members of the group arrested in Ghana from being extradited to Nigeria where they are likely to face treason charges.

Since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power in 2015, Ipob has been campaigning for the recreation of the defunct Republic of Biafra that existed briefly between July 1967 and January 1970 during the Nigerian civil war. Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu is currently in detention in Abuja where he is facing treason charges after being abducted from Kenya and flown to Nigeria in a daring commando operation.

Following the successful forceful extradition of Mr Kanu, Nigerian security operatives are now planning to get other Ipob members outside Nigeria returned to the country. Mr Ejimakor, who is currently representing Mr Kanu in court, has had to take steps to stop the extradition of some Ipob members arrested in Ghana.

Mr Ejimakor said he had sent some legal documents to Ipob’s directorate of state, to defend the group’s members arrested by Ghanaian police last week. He explained that Ghanaian police officers had arrested some Ipob members at the venue of their monthly meeting around Mallam Junction in Accra on Saturday and he wants to prevent them being deported to Nigeria.

"A few days ago, I sent to the directorate of state, certain legal documents critical to the defence of the faithful currently distressed in Ghana. The goal is to quickly secure their freedom and prevent their rendition to injustice in Nigeria,” Mr Ejimakor added.

Apparently, the arrested members were seen singing a pro-Biafra solidarity song before their arrest and incarceration. They were subsequently taken to a police station in Accra, where they were profiled.