The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the Federal High Court's decision to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization, rejecting the group's appeal.

In a unanimous ruling by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka, the appellate court dismissed IPOB’s claim that the proscription was unjust and based on misrepresentation of facts. The court affirmed that the Federal Government acted lawfully in declaring IPOB illegal due to its activities that were deemed to threaten national security.

The court noted that all issues raised by IPOB in their appeal lacked merit, and therefore, the appeal was dismissed.

Background to IPOB’s Proscription

IPOB's activities were first banned on September 15, 2017, by the late Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati of the Federal High Court, following an ex-parte motion filed by then Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN. Justice Kafarati's order declared the group illegal, particularly in the South-east and South-south regions, and prohibited any individual or group from participating in its activities. The order was published in the official gazette and national newspapers as required.

IPOB's Legal Challenge

In January 2018, IPOB filed a motion challenging the proscription, alleging that the Federal Government had misrepresented facts in the legal proceedings. The group argued that the proscription unjustly labeled over 30 million Nigerians of Igbo descent as terrorists. However, the Court of Appeal rejected these claims, affirming the proscription on the grounds that IPOB’s actions posed a significant threat to national security.

In related news, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu's bail application was recently denied by the Federal High Court, which is set to proceed with charges of treasonable felony against him.