The Indigenous People of Biafra urged the Federal Government on Friday to remove the group’s “terrorist” label or appear in court to defend it.
On September 20, 2017, Justice Abdul Kafarati issued an ex parte order declaring IPOB a ‘terrorist’ organization.
However, in a statement issued by its representative, Emma Powerful, the pro-Biafran group stated that the Federal Government has declined to appear before the Appeal Court to defend their proscription ruling.
According to Emma Powerful, the IPOB legal team has been appealing the proscription ruling at the Appeal Court since 2018. Nonetheless, the Federal Government of Nigeria continues to use a “slow and warped” court system to obstruct its hearing.
“Ever since the IPOB’s proscription was appealed, the Federal Government and her compromised judges have been avoiding meeting the IPOB legal team in their court,” Powerful added.
“The Federal Government and her courts are operating normally, while the IPOB legal team awaits them in court to finish what they began.”
“The IPOB, ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wondered why the Federal Government is avoiding defending their ‘black market’ proscription of IPOB before the Appeal Court.”
“The IPOB legal team has been appealing this black market proscription order in the Appeal Court since 2018, but the Federal Government of Nigeria continues to frustrate the hearing of the Appeal.”
“The IPOB is a peaceful movement seeking the restoration of Biafra.” Since its inception, IPOB has organized the world’s most peaceful protests, particularly in Biafra regions. Regardless of our nonviolent approach, the ethnically biased previous President used one of his kin, a judge, to outlaw this peaceful campaign.
“In 2018, our legal team filed an appeal against the prohibition.” We’ve been waiting for the Federal Government to appear in their court and explain to the world how a peaceful movement seeking independence became a terrorist organization since then.”
According to the organization, on every adjournment date, either the federal government or the judges would refuse to appear in court.
“Rather than confronting IPOB’s legal team in court to prove their proscription of IPOB, the Federal Government capitalized on the illegal terrorist label on IPOB, using security forces to abduct, illegally detain, and, in many cases, extrajudicially murder unarmed IPOB members.”
“African Union, European Union, USA and Russia governments, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other reputable human rights organisations across the globe should ask the Federal Government and its courts to remove the illegal proscription tag on IPOB or appear in Court to defend their actions.”