Abuja court grants injunction declaring IPOB terrorist group

The acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Abdul Kafarati, on Wednesday granted the Nigerian Government an interim injunction proscribing the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

This followed an application filed by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, urging the court to grant the injunction.

Nigeria’s minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier given written approval for the proscription of the group, pending legal process.

In its ruling, Abdul Kafarati, said activities of the secessionist group in any part of the country “especially in the south-east and south-south regions amounts to an act of terrorism and illegality”.

“That an order proscribing the existence of IPOB in any part of Nigeria especially in the south-east and south-south regions, either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called and publishing same in the official gazette and two national dailies is granted,” the court held.

“That an order restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of IPOB under any name or platform however called is granted.”

Governors of the Southeast states took the first step to ban the activities of the group after the military had declared it a militant terrorist group.