Appeal Court Upholds IPOB’s Proscription as a Terrorist Organization

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reaffirmed the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group. In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka, the appellate court upheld the Federal High Court’s ruling, which declared IPOB illegal. The court ruled that the Federal Government acted lawfully in outlawing the group, citing threats to national security. It dismissed IPOB’s appeal for lack of merit. This decision upholds the 2017 ruling by late Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, who banned IPOB activities, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions. IPOB had sought to overturn the ruling, arguing that the Federal Government misrepresented facts in obtaining the proscription order. However, the appellate court found no grounds to reverse the decision.