The Federal High Court in Abuja has given a judicial backing to the executive order of President Muhammadu Buhari, outlawing the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and its activities.
The Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati, granted the order proscribing the group. The court declared that the activities of IPOB in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East or South-South regions, henceforth, constituted “an act of terrorism.”
The Court granted the ex parte application filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), proscribing the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization.
Besides the proscription of IPOB as terrorist organization ,the court also restrains “any person or group of persons from participating in any of the group’s activities.”
Justice Kafarati ordered the Federal Government to publish the court order on IPOB proscription in its official gazette and two national dailies.
The order read thus: “That an order, declaring the activities of the respondent – Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) – in any part of Nigeria especially in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria amount to acts of terrorism and illegality, is granted.
“That an order, proscribing the existence of the respondent (IPOB) in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South-east and South-South regions of Nigeria either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called and publishing same in the official gazette and two national dailies, is granted.
“That an order, restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the respondent (IPOB) under any other name or platform however called or described, is granted.”
Malami (SAN) who led the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Tayo Apata; Acting Director, Civil Litigation, Mrs. Maimuna Shiru; T. A. Gazali , Oyin Koleosho and other lawyers in the Federal Ministry of Justice to the court where he prayed the court for the proscription order.
The AGF had argued in his submission that the (IPOB) has all the ingredients of a terrorist organization and indeed exhibited acts of terrorism in the country by forming its own army , intelligence organisation, importation of arms and confronting the troops of the Nigerian army on their duty post attempting to seize their rifles.
PRNigeria
