Aborted Biafra declaration: FG seeks closed-door trial of treason charge against Onwuka, others
Benjamin Onwuka, BZF leader
Federal Government on Tuesday applied for closed-door trial in the treason charge against Benjamin Onwuka and 11 others, who attempted takeover of the Enugu Government House and the Enugu State a broadcasting Service.
They were said to have purposes to declare the Biafra Republic, with it flag hoisted in Enugu Governmemt House and a broadcast in the state radio.
At a resumed hearing on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Enugu, the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, prayed the court to exclude members of the public from further hearing on the matter.
Kaswe said the application, when granted, would enable his remaining witnesses to testify in the matter.
He said two of his witnesses that had yet to testify in the matter were not disposed to doing that in the public as they had received threats to their life.
The prosecuting counsel said the application was in the best interest of justice.
The Defence Counsel, Olu Omotayo, opposed the motion on the grounds that the matter commenced in the full glare of the public.
Omotayo said the court would err if it granted such application.
According to him, there had not been any breach of order since the commencement of the trial.
Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing, the court admitted as exhibits 46 empty bottles of beer, 25 litres of petrol, 15 cutlasses and six CD tapes.
A prosecution witness, Corporal Michael Udemba, said the exhibits were recovered from the suspects on the day of their arrest.
Udemba said that the empty bottles and fuel were to be used as explosives to set the premises of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service ablaze.
The Judge, Justice D.V. Agishi, adjourned the matter till June 10 for ruling on the closed-door trial application and continuation of hearing.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the suspects have been in custody since June 2014.
They were arrested for alleged invasion of ESBS in an attempt to make a broadcast for the secession of Biafra.
Onwuka, who is a native of Bende Local Government Area of Abia state, led members of the Biafra Zionist Federation on the attack on Enugu Government House.
The police were already fingering MASSOB as the possible suspect for the attack before BZF claimed the responsibility.
Onwuka, who addressed newsmen in Enugu, said that his group's motive was to hoist the flag of Biafra and “reconfirm the independence of the Republic of Biafra.”
He gave an ultimatum that Nigeria, “must vacate Biafra by March 31, 2015 and failure to do so, will result in bloodbath.”
Onwuka, who allegedly led the invasion, had told reporters in Enugu that, “since January 12, 1970, the Biafran flag has never rested in Government House, Enugu which is the centre power of the Biafra people.”
He, however, said that during the invasion, his members were not armed, noting that they carried only flags, sticks and ropes with which to hoist the flags which included those of Israel.
The Rainbow with Agency reports.
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