Biafra: Ohanaeze Reacts To Court Order On Proscription Of IPOB

IPOB crowd (File Photo)

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has described the court order which failed to lift the proscription order on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as unfortunate.

A statement by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said the decision is biased as IPOB has done nothing to warrant been labelled as a terrorist organization.

“Sadly, the Federal Attorney General in his parochialism, unmitigated bias and calumny has not found it necessary to classify Fulani herdsmen as terrorists inspite of their classification by the Global Terrorist Index as the fourth deadliest terrorist organization in the world.

“Ohanaeze frowns at this nepotism, this denigration of our judiciary and this stigmatization of our children,” the statement reads.

Recall, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, in a ruling delivered by the Acting Chief Judge of the court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, refused to set-aside the order which labelled the Indigenuos People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organisation.

Justice Kafarati also dismissed claims by the counsel to IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor that the federal government could not sue the group as it was not registered in Nigeria.

“The question is whether a foreigner in Nigeria is subject to Nigerian law? Can that foreigner be arrested and prosecuted in Nigeria? The answer is yes.

“It is therefore my considered view that the argument of Ejiofor has no basis. I hold that the applicant is subject to Nigerian law and courts”, the Judge said.

Justice Kafarati said he was persuaded by an affidavit evidence and exhibits the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, adduced before the court, which he said showed that existence of the IPOB constituted a threat to national security.

The Justice also awarded a cost of N500, 000 against the group.

Addressing newsmen after the ruling, IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor said the Judge failed to address fundamental issues raised by IPOB in its application.

He therefore vowed to appeal the ruling at a court of higher jurisdiction.

IPOB had initially filed a motion to challenge the September 20, 2017, court order that outlawed its activities in Nigeria.