Court Affirms IPOB's Proscription As A Terrorist Group

The Indigenous People of Biafra has lost its bid to reverse a court order proscribing the group.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed the application by the Indigenous People of Biafra requesting to reverse the court’s order proscribing it and designating it a terrorist organisation.

In his judgement, the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High, Justice Abdu Kafarati, resolved all the three formulated issues against the group, and held that September 20, 2017 proscription order was validly issued.

The judge dismissed submission of IPOB’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who submitted that IPOB not being registered in Nigeria but only registered in some other countries, could not be sued in Nigeria.

According to a Punch report, the judge noted that an organization registered abroad could be likened to a foreigner who could be arrested in another country where he was found to have committed a crime.

The judge also held that the issuance of the proscription order by him in chambers following an ex parte application was in accordance with the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act.

The judge awarded the sum of N500 as cost against IPOB.