IPOB warns FG against false terrorism claims

|By Adejumo Adekunle-

-Group insists no valid court ruling proscribed it as a terrorist body
-Says ex-parte order falls short of constitutional fair hearing

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has faulted what it described as misleading claims by the Federal Government regarding its proscription, maintaining that it was never lawfully declared a terrorist organisation under Nigerian or international laws.

In a statement released by its Directorate of Legal Affairs and made public by spokesperson Emma Powerful, the group challenged the legitimacy of the 2017 ex-parte order issued against it. IPOB argued that the order was not the outcome of a full trial and therefore could not be equated with a legal conviction or lawful proscription.

“The ex-parte order was issued without prior notice to IPOB, without presentation of evidence, and without an opportunity for defense,” the statement read. “This falls short of the requirements of Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing.”

The group insisted that no competent court has issued a final judgment proscribing it as a terrorist group. It disclosed that it continues to challenge the legal standing of the ex-parte order at various courts, including the Supreme Court.

IPOB further warned that repeated reference to the group as a terrorist organisation without a valid post-trial court ruling could lead to legal action on grounds of defamation and violation of constitutional rights.

The group reaffirmed its stance on peaceful advocacy and said it had pursued all legal remedies to defend its name and legitimacy.