A high court in Owerri, Imo state capital, has set free the 114 women who were arrested after staging a protest in support of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
A magistrate court in Owerri had ordered their detention. This sparked widespread criticism.
At the court on Friday, Ejiofor Uche, lead counsel to the women, filed a bail application which was not opposed.
Thaddeus Okey, police prosecutor, said the force was not represented in court because the matter had been referred to the state ministry of justice for legal counsel and decision.
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According to Okey, the police had no powers in whatever decision that was subsequently taken by the court.
The court granted the bail application and freed the women unconditionally.
When they were arrested seven days ago, the police had accused them of “conducting an illegal assembly and holding an unlawful protest”.
TheCable had contacted Andrew Enwerem, spokesman of the Imo state police command, to substantiate the offence of the protesters on Thursday, but he referred the reporter to Owerri prison.
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“Go to Owerri prison, you are a reporter. Go to the prison and find out,” he had said.
“I am the police spokesperson and not an investigator… If you ask me, I will say yes, some women were arrested, I don’t know their count charge.”
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