Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor Rejects Connection to Failed IPOB Proscription Appeal
Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor has distanced himself from the recently concluded appeal against the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that upheld the designation of IPOB as a terrorist group.
Ejiofor, who had previously been listed as the lawyer for IPOB, issued a statement on Sunday, refuting claims by Aloy Ejimakor, who represents IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. Ejimakor had allegedly linked Ejiofor to the appeal, which was dismissed on January 30, 2025.
According to Ejiofor, he was not involved in the legal proceedings of the appeal after 2022 when the case was taken over by Machukwu Ume SAN and Aloy Ejimakor. Ejiofor emphasized that his name was not to be associated with the appeal after he withdrew from the case and formally requested not to be included in any further proceedings.
“My attention has been drawn to a misleading tweet by Aloy Ejimakor, which seeks to misrepresent facts and mischievously associate my name with the recent concluded Appeal on IPOB proscription,” Ejiofor wrote in his statement. “I have no involvement in the appeal, nor do I have any understanding of the new grounds of appeal introduced by their legal team.”
Ejiofor added that his decision to step away from the case was clear, and that the legal team had amended the process without his consent or involvement. He also criticized Ejimakor for now attempting to associate him with the failed appeal, describing it as “deceptive and unacceptable.”
He further accused Ejimakor of attempting to shift the blame for the unsuccessful appeal onto him, stating, “Let it be clear that I distance myself from the proceedings and the outcome of the Appeal. Any attempt to mislead the public by linking me to it in any way, is both deceptive and unacceptable, and will not be treated with kids’ glove.”
Ejiofor’s statement comes after the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the Federal High Court’s ruling that proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organization. The court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit, affirming the federal government’s stance that IPOB posed a threat to national security.
Ejiofor’s declaration has shed light on the internal disagreements within the legal team representing IPOB in the appeal, with Ejimakor and his team now facing scrutiny for their handling of the case.
