Court Of Appeal Affirms IPOB’s Proscription As A Terrorist Organization
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the 2017 proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization, reaffirming the Federal High Court’s ruling that outlawed the group.
A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma Barka, delivered a unanimous verdict, stating that the Federal Government acted lawfully in banning IPOB. The court maintained that the group’s activities posed a serious threat to national security and the unity of the country. It dismissed IPOB’s appeal, ruling that it lacked merit and resolving all issues against the group.
The proscription order was first issued by the late Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, on September 15, 2017. The decision was based on an ex-parte motion filed by the then Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN). The court declared IPOB’s activities illegal, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions, and prohibited individuals or groups from engaging in or supporting the movement. Additionally, Justice Abdu-Kafarati directed the AGF to publish the proscription order in the official gazette and two national newspapers.
Following the ruling, IPOB filed a motion in 2018 challenging the validity of the proscription, arguing that the Federal Government had obtained the order unfairly. However, the court dismissed the motion on January 22, 2018, upholding the initial decision.
Dissatisfied with the rulings, IPOB appealed to the Court of Appeal, urging it to overturn the proscription. The group’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chukwuma-Machukwu Umeh, argued that the proscription effectively labeled over 30 million Igbo people as terrorists. IPOB also accused the AGF of misrepresenting facts and suppressing critical evidence in its affidavit.
Despite these arguments, the Court of Appeal rejected IPOB’s appeal, stating that there was no justification to set aside the proscription order. The ruling reaffirmed the Federal Government’s stance and maintained IPOB’s classification as a terrorist organization.
