The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja where he filed an application for an order before the court to declare the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as “acts of terrorism and illegality.” The order also seeks to proscribe the existence of IPOB throughout Nigeria, with particular attention paid to the South-East and South-South regions.
The approval of the AGF’s motion came after the Nigerian military backtracked and insisted that it had not declared IPOB a terrorist organization. The Acting Chief Judge of the court, Justice Adamu Kafarati, granted the orders after hearing an ex-parte application filed and argued by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Kafarati directed the AGF to ensure the publication of the IPOB proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies. Malami was accompanied to court by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Tayo Apata; Acting Director, Civil Litigation, Mrs. Maimuna Shiru and other lawyers in the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Specifically, the judge said:
“That an order, declaring the activities of the respondent – Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) – in any part of Nigeria especially in the South East and South-South regions of Nigeria amount to acts of terrorism and illegallity, is granted.
That an order, proscribing the existence of the respondent (IPOB) in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South East and South-South regions of Nigeria either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called and publishing same in the official gazette and two national dailies, is granted.
That an order, restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the respondent (IPOB) under any other name or platform however called or described, is granted.”
It would be recalled that recently the south east governor forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo socio-political announced the proscription of IPOB in all the five states of South Eastern Nigeria
