The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has taken its proscription battle to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal had upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, which proscribed IPOB and declared it a terrorist organization.
IPOB’s appeal is based on five grounds, including the argument that the lower court erred in law by declaring the group a threat to national security. IPOB also contends that the Court of Appeal’s decision breached non-derogable provisions of the Constitution, particularly those prohibiting the imposition of disabilities or restrictions on individuals based on their ethnic group, place of origin, or political opinion.
The group is praying the Supreme Court to allow the appeal and reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal. IPOB’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, argued that the process by which IPOB was proscribed and declared a terrorist organization violated the provisions of the Constitution.
It’s worth noting that IPOB’s proscription has been a contentious issue, with the group arguing that it has the right to self-determination, as guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The African Charter is recognized as binding in Nigeria and other member states of the African Union.
The Supreme Court’s decision on IPOB’s appeal will be closely watched, as it has significant implications for the group’s future and the broader issue of self-determination in Nigeria.
