Appeal Court affirms order proscribing IPOB as terrorist group

Appeal Court affirms order proscribing IPOB as terrorist group

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organization.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka, affirmed the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which outlawed the IPOB.

The court held that it found no reason to set-aside the order the Federal Government got against the group.

According to the court, FG, acted lawfully by proscribing the organization whose activities threatend the nation’s security and continued existence.

It resolved all the issues against the IPOB and dismissed its appeal for want of merit.

It will be recalled that the late former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, had in a ruling he delivered on September 15, 2017, outlawed the activities of the IPOB in Nigeria.

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The proscription order followed an ex-parte motion the former Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, filed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Specifically, Justice Kafafati declared as illegal, all activities of the group, particularly in the South-east and South-South regions of the country.

He further restrained “any person or group of persons from participating in any of the group’s activities”.

The Judge directed the AGF to ensure that he published the proscription order in the official gazette, as well as in two national dailies.