The arraignment of the 26 MASSOB members and others now at large, before the magistrates’ court followed their arrest by the police on January 18, 2016 in Aba. The arrest was due to a protest march by the group with the Indigenous People of Biafra against the continued detention of the Director of Biafra Radio, Mr Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government. According to the charge sheet, the accused persons are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit Felony, belonging to an unlawful society and being in possession of one cutlass, 12 MASSOB T-shirts, 13 caps, 18 Mufflers, two MASSOB flags and four MASSOB identity cards, punishable under section 516 A(1) 64(a) and 65 (4) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol 111 Laws of Abia State 2005. When the charges where read out to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the lead prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP O.O. Uche urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody so that they would learn their lessons. However, the defence counsels, Mr Nwabueze Nwankwo and E. O. Nkere, reminded the court that the offences of the accused were bailable, and so pleaded with the trial magistrate to grant them bail. Ruling on the bail application, the Magistrate Mrs Ugboaja granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety each, with a condition that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and must be submit two recent passport photographs to the court.]]>