Twenty-six members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and others now at large were yesterday arraigned before an Umuahia Magistrate Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Linda Ugboaja on a three-count charge.

The prosecution is accusing the MASSOB activists of conspiring to commit felony, belonging to an unlawful society and possession of one cutlass, 12 MASSOB T-shirts, 13 caps, 18 moffulas, two flags and four identity cards of MASSOB, which is allegedly an unlawful society. The accused persons were arrested in Aba during Monday’s pro-Biafra protest by the Police.

According to the prosecutor, DSP O. O. Uche, the accused persons conspired among themselves to commit the offences punishable under section 516 A (1), 64 (a) and 65 (4) of the Criminal Code, Cap 80 Volume III, Laws of Abia State 2005.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody to make them learn their lessons.

But arguing for bail for their clients, the defence counsel, Barrister Nwabueze Nwankwo and Barrister E.O. Nkere, insisted that the offences allegedly committed by the accused were bailable and pleaded with the trial judge to grant them bail.

Ruling on the bail application, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Linda Ugboaja, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety each, adding that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. She also ordered the sureties to submit two recent passports photographs to the court. The matter was adjourned to February 24, 2016 for hearing.

•Photo shows pro-Biafra protest.