From Tony John,  Port Harcourt

Police have arraigned 45 supporters of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) arrested last Friday, during a peaceful solidarity rally on the inauguration of the 45th United States President,  Donald John Trump and their detained leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The suspects, who were arraigned at two different Magistrates’ Courts, in Port Harcourt, yesterday evening, were arrested at various parts of the state capital during the protest.

They were among the 65 persons the state police command announced, at the weekend, they arrested during the protest.

Thirty-five were arraigned before Chief Magistrate S. Andrew-Jaja of Court 8,  while seven were arraigned before Chief Magistrate A. O. Amadi-Nna at about 5.00pm; the court rose at about 6.15pm.

The accused persons were arraigned on a two-court charge of conspiracy to commit treasonable felony and display of unruly behaviour. On count one, they were accused of committing “treasonable felony and committed an offence punishable under Section 516A (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

On count two, they were accused of conducting themselves “in a manner likely to force or compel the president to change his measures by displaying flags and other items of the Biafra Republic, with such intention by an act to take over the government of Nigeria by force and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41 (c) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.”

However, the accused persons were remanded in prison and the matter adjourned till January 30.

Addressing journalists shortly after the courts’ proceedings,  Counsel for the accused, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said they had gathered evidence against the security agencies and how the latter murdered pro-Biafra agitators during the protest in the state.

He further told newsmen that IPOB had counted over 20 of its members allegedly shot dead by security operatives.

They were driven in a Black Maria lorry to the Port Harcourt Maximum Prison at about 6.20 pm.