Imo State High Court in Owerri on friday ordered the released the over 100 women arrested by the police in the State.
The court also discharged and acquitted the women, four days after they were remanded in prison for allegedly taking part in a protest by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The ruling followed a bail application filed by the lead counsel to the defendants, Ejiofor Uche, which was not opposed as the plaintiff, Imo State Police Command, had no representation in court.
The court, thereafter, granted the bail application and discharged the women unconditionally.
Reacting to the ruling, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Emmanuel Powerful, commended the decision of the court.
He stressed that the ruling was necessary and mandatory because the protesting women had not violated any law or rule of the Nigerian Government.
Powerful, who said IPOB was more determined to achieve its objective, revealed that the group would embark on a mega protest soon.
The women were arrested last week while participating in a peaceful protest in Owerri to know the whereabouts of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Following their arrest, the police arraigned them before a Magistrate’s Court in the state’s capital after which they were remanded in prison on Monday.
The arrest and subsequent detention of the protesters had sparked criticism by prominent Nigerians and human rights groups in the country.
