The Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the Federal Government’s proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), affirming its designation as a terrorist organization.
This follows a long legal battle dating back to January 18, 2018, when the late Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled to proscribe IPOB after the Attorney General of the Federation filed an ex-parte motion. The ruling declared IPOB’s activities illegal, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions, and prohibited anyone from participating in the group’s activities.
IPOB challenged the ruling, filing an appeal with the Court of Appeal, urging the court to nullify the trial court’s decision. In the appeal, IPOB argued that the ruling was unjust and sought to overturn the declaration that branded the group a terrorist organization.
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Hamma Barka, dismissed the appeal, stating that the federal government acted lawfully in its decision to proscribe the group. The court emphasized that IPOB’s activities posed a significant threat to national security and the stability of the nation.
This ruling effectively upholds the ban on IPOB’s activities in Nigeria, solidifying the federal government’s stance against the group, which has long been accused of advocating for the secession of the South-East region of Nigeria.