The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja upheld the Federal Government’s proscription order against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), affirming the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka, unanimously dismissed IPOB’s appeal, citing threats to national security posed by the group’s activities.
The appellate court’s decision followed extensive deliberations on the legality and implications of the proscription, which was initially instituted by the late former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, in 2017.
The proscription order was issued in response to an ex-parte motion filed by the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Justice Kafarati’s ruling, which outlawed IPOB’s operations across Nigeria, emphasized the group’s activities in the South-east and South-South regions, deeming them illegal and a threat to public safety.
The court further directed the AGF to ensure the publication of the proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies, solidifying its legal effect.
In subsequent proceedings, IPOB challenged the validity of the proscription order, alleging procedural irregularities and misrepresentation of facts by the AGF.
The organization’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Umeh, argued fervently for the court to set aside what they termed a declaration of over 30 million Nigerians of Igbo extraction as terrorists.
However, the Court of Appeal found no grounds to overturn the lower court’s decision, affirming the legality of the federal government’s actions in proscribing IPOB.
Justice Barka, delivering the verdict, emphasized that the group’s activities posed significant threats to national security and the unity of Nigeria, warranting decisive legal action.
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