IPOB files injunction against Appeal Court’s affirmation of proscription

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has filed a motion for injunction against the Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed its proscription.

According to lead counsel Aloy Ejimakor, the motion is aimed at checking the imminent danger of deploying the judgment as a cover to unleash extrajudicial killings in the Southeast region of Nigeria.

IPOB called for an order of injunction restraining the respondent, its agents, associates, privies, representatives, any agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and or person (s) howsoever described or called, including the military and paramilitary outfits, operations and commands from giving effect, acting upon or in any manner carrying into effect the judgment of the Court of Appeal, delivered in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/214/2018 between the Appellant and the Respondent on January 30, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal lodged on February 7, 2025, against the said judgment before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

IPOB also called for an order to all concerned parties to maintain status quo as it existed before the judgment of the court of appeal pending the hearing and determination of the appeal lodged before the supreme court.

Giving grounds for the injunction, IPOB said the court of appeal judgement declared it and all indigenes of Igboland as terrorists.

“The Appellant is utterly dissatisfied with the said Judgment and has consequently filed a Notice of Appeal on the 7th day of February, 2025 to the Supreme Court containing Five (5) grounds of Appeal against the said Judgment,” IPOB said.

The group said that the order proscribing it and declaring it a terrorist organisation breached and infringed on its right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 and which fair hearing rights is non-derogable under any circumstances including national security and the likes.