A high court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has asked the Nigerian Police Force to charge Gloria Okolie to court by August 31 or release her.
Report had it that the 22-year-old was arrested in Imo state by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on June 17 for being friends with a suspected member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
She was transferred to Abuja, despite efforts by her parents to secure her release.
After 66 days in detention, the police, in a statement, said she was arrested for alleged membership of IPOB and for working with one Benjamin Uzoma Emojiri to attack officers and stations in Imo.
“Police Investigations revealed that Gloria Okolie is a member of IPOB/ESN in Imo State who worked closely with one Benjamin Uzoma Emojiri a.k.a “Onye Army”, one of the ESN commanders earlier declared wanted by the Police for his lead roles in planning, coordinating and executing the attack on the Imo State Police Command Headquarters and Imo State Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service,” the police had said.
Her detention stirred public outcry as many Nigerians, including civil society organisations, have called for her release.
On Monday, Okolie filed a fundamental human rights suit asking the court to mandate the police to pay the sum of N100 billion as “general and punitive” damages for “infringing” on her rights.
On Friday, the court ordered that she should be charged to court or be granted bail in the sum of N2 million and a level-12 officer as surety on or before August 31.
Harrison Gwamnishu, the activist who has been using his social media platforms to call for justice for Okolie, confirmed the development.
