IPOB’s proscription is very timely

On Wednesday last week, Sept. 20, the Federal High Court in Abuja gave judicial backing to President Muhammadu Buhari’s order outlawing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities in every part of Nigeria. Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Abdu Kafarati, who granted the order, declared that IPOB’s activities constituted an act of terrorism and illegality.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice Mr. Dayo Apata, together with some other lawyers from the ministry appeared for the Federal Government. The AGF argued the ex parte motion in which IPOB was joined as a respondent inside the judge’s chamber. The Federal Government’s ex-parte motion was brought under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013, which permits the judge to hear it in chambers.

The court declared that the activities of the group in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South -East and SouthSouth regions of Nigeria “amount to acts of terrorism and illegality.” It also restrained “any person or group of persons from participating in any form in the activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the group.” After the order was granted, Malami said IPOB stands proscribed as the court had sanctioned the presidential approval proscribing the group. He said, “Gazetting is the final stage and that is an executive procedure, not legislative or judicial.” President Buhari had earlier given written approval for the secessionist group’s proscription. Prior to that, governors of the Southeast states took the first step by banning the group’s activities after the military declared it to be a militant terrorist group.

Senate President Bukola Saraki had stirred controversy when he issued a statement saying IPOB’s proscription by South East governors and the military’s categorization of it as a ‘terrorist organisation’ did not follow due process. He said, “Our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect. I am sure the president will do the needful by initiating the right process.” Even though Saraki’s observation about the procedure was correct and government subsequently followed the correct legal steps, he received a lot of bashing because many people thought his statement showed sympathy for IPOB or sought to ridicule the presidency and the military.

We wholeheartedly support the proscription of IPOB and its declaration as a terrorist group, which it is because it has embarked on a course of action that could lead to chaos and loss of lives in Nigeria. No leader worthy of the name should keep mute when the oath of office he took mandates him to protect his country and its people from chaos and disorder. Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed also charged that IPOB receives money from treasury looters as well as from foreign sources, especially from France. He said, “The financial headquarters is in France... Some people in Diaspora contribute money to IPOB. Where does he (Nnamdi Kanu) get his money from? We know this as a fact.”

According to Lai Mohammed, the Federal Government once asked the United Kingdom to help shut down Radio Biafra in London from where Kanu was transmitting hate speeches but that the UK Government rejected the request based on the need to protect freedom of speech. The UK High Commission has denied that it received such a request so we urge the Federal Government to renew it. We believe it is not in UK’s interest to see Nigeria dissolve in chaos.

Though IPOB’s counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor has filed a motion seeking the setting aside of the proscription, the Federal Government must stand firm and defend its action through the courts. No copious citation of international human rights charters should be used as a cover by a secessionist and terrorist group to threaten our national security and imperil the lives of 180 million people.