Breaking News: IPOB asks court to vacate order declaring it a terrorist group

Breaking News: IPOB asks court to vacate order declaring it a terrorist group 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Friday, asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside the ex-parte order that proscribed and declared it a terrorist organisation. 

The group, in a motion it filed pursuant to Section 6(6) (1) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, maintained that the order which the Acting Chief Judge of the high court, Justice Abdul Kafarati granted to the Federal Government on Wednesday, “was made without jurisdiction”, adding that it was “granted against an entity unknown to law”. 

IPOB approached the court through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor. It will be recalled that the high court outlawed IPOB on the strength of an ex-parte motion the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, filed on behalf of the 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 it published the order prescribing IPOB in the official gazette, as well as in two national dailies.

Yesterday, IPOB's lawyers stated that Justice Abdu Kafarati, was  hiding from the lawyers, who stormed Abuja to challenge the order. Meanwhile IPOB on Thursday described the order proscribing it as ‘Black Market order’ and accused the Abuja Court which allegedly prescribed it on Wednesday of acting on bias and to impress the Federal Government of President Mohammadu Buhari, adding that the proscription will not stand.

Justice Abdu Kafarati, the judge who declared IPOB as a terror group on the run as IPOB lawyers storm Abuja. Describe proscribing order as ‘Black Market order’