Chidi Samuel || A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the application by the Indigenous People of Biafra challenging the proscription of the group and designating it a terrorist organisation.
The Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High, Justice Abdu Kafarati, in a ruling on IPOB’s application, held that September 20, 2017, proscription order was validly issued.
He dismissed the contention 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 the Judge, an organisation registered abroad could be likened to a foreigner who could be arrested in another country where he was found to have committed a crime.
He 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 court awarded the sum of N500 as cost against the proscribed group.