The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization.
In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka affirmed the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared the group illegal. The appellate court ruled that there was no basis to overturn the Federal Government’s order proscribing IPOB, citing national security concerns.
The court maintained that the government acted lawfully in outlawing the organization, whose activities were deemed a threat to the country’s stability. Consequently, it dismissed IPOB’s appeal for lack of merit.
The proscription of IPOB was first ordered by the late former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, on September 15, 2017. The ruling followed an ex-parte motion filed by the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Kafarati’s order specifically banned all IPOB activities, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.
