“Court of Appeal Upholds IPOB’s Terrorist Designation, Dismisses Appeal”
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a significant ruling, upholding the Federal Government’s proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization. In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka, the court affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which outlawed IPOB’s activities in 2017.
A Landmark Decision for National Security
The appellate court rejected IPOB’s appeal, asserting that the Federal Government acted within its rights to proscribe the group due to its activities, which were deemed to threaten the nation’s security and survival. The panel found no grounds to overturn the previous decision and dismissed the group’s appeal as lacking merit.
The decision is a decisive blow to IPOB’s ongoing fight against the proscription, which it has consistently contested. IPOB’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chukwuma-Machukwu Umeh, had argued that the proscription order was unlawfully obtained and that it unfairly labeled millions of Igbo Nigerians as terrorists. However, the Court of Appeal found no merit in these claims.
The Roots of the Proscription: 2017 Federal High Court Ruling
The initial proscription order was handed down by the late Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati of the Federal High Court on September 15, 2017. The ruling declared IPOB’s activities illegal, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria. Justice Kafarati also issued a restraining order against any individual or group from participating in IPOB’s activities, emphasizing the threat posed by the group to national security.
The Federal Government, through then-Attorney General Abubakar Malami, filed an ex-parte motion to seek the proscription, which was granted by the court. IPOB’s attempts to challenge the decision were unsuccessful, including a motion filed in January 2018, which the court dismissed.
A Persistent Legal Battle for IPOB
Despite the setback in the Court of Appeal, IPOB has remained steadfast in its legal battle. The group has consistently argued that the proscription is unjust and discriminatory, asserting that it unfairly targets over 30 million Igbo people by branding them terrorists. This latest ruling means the group must now find a new way to pursue its objectives, as the court has confirmed the legality of its proscription.
The ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal and political struggles surrounding IPOB, as well as the broader question of national security and the balance of power between the government and political groups in Nigeria.
