Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has raised concerns over the prolonged detention and prosecution of several Igbo youths accused of terrorism-related offences.
In a statement titled “When Justice is Hurried, Liberty is Buried,” Ejiofor alleged that some detainees spent more than five years in custody without trial before being arraigned in court.
He questioned the circumstances surrounding their detention and claimed that some defendants were denied access to legal practitioners of their choice.
According to him, reports from the court proceedings suggested that some accused persons may have been pressured into entering guilty pleas, while lawyers seeking to represent certain defendants were allegedly prevented from doing so.
Ejiofor emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, and legal representation, stressing that such rights should not be compromised regardless of the nature of the allegations.
He also expressed concern over reports that some of the detainees had previously been denied by security agencies as being in custody, despite later appearing before the court after years of detention.
The lawyer maintained that criminal suspects should be prosecuted in line with due process and constitutional safeguards, noting that the pursuit of convictions should not override fundamental human rights.
He said further comments would be withheld until relevant court records and materials are obtained and reviewed.
Tags: Nigeria, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, IPOB, Igbo Youths, Terrorism Trial, Human Rights
