Terrorism: IPOB asks court to vacate ”faulty” proscribtion order

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate the order proscribing it as a terrorist organisation for being faulty. IPOB counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor argued that the gazette signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari is invalid under Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention […]

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate the order proscribing it as a terrorist organisation for being faulty.

IPOB counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor argued that the gazette signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari is invalid under Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, which provides that only the president can give such approval.

He argued that IPOB’s activities cannot be compared with the Fulani herdsmen, which was declared the fourth deadliest terrorist organisation.

"Before the September 11 army attack we enjoyed relative peace in the South East and nobody has comolained about IPOB," he said.

But the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Apata said the activities of IPOB, which includes burning of police station and killing of a policeman constitutes acts of terror.

He said the seizure of arms from Turkey by the Nigerian Customs Service has been linked to the IPOB, and asked the court not to vacate the proscription order.

Meanwhile Justice Abdul Kafarati has fixed January 17, 2018 for judgement.