The proscription of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been confirmed by a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria. Justice Abdu Kafarati also affirmed that the group is a terrorist group. Therefore, IPOB became a banned terrorist organization with effect from 19.01.2018.
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, IPOB’s lawyer argued that IPOB was not registered in Nigeria but in other countries and therefore could not be sued in Nigeria. This argument made the judge further compare IPOB to a foreigner who could be arrested in another country where he was found to have committed a crime.
IPOB was initially banned by a lower court before an appeal was filed to a Federal High Court. The high court dismissed the appeal and subsequently affirmed that September 20, 2017 proscription order (ban) remains valid.
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