The Court of Appeal in Abuja has postponed the hearing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s appeal against its designation as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government.
The hearing is now set for October 31.
The three-judge panel instructed both sides to submit all necessary legal documents before the next session.
IPOB’s appeal challenges the Federal High Court’s 2017 ruling, delivered by the late Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, which banned the group and labeled its activities illegal.
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The court made this decision following an ex-parte motion filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, on behalf of the government.
Justice Kafarati further instructed that the order be published in the official gazette and in two national newspapers.
In January 2018, IPOB’s attempt to contest the proscription was rejected. The court upheld its earlier ruling, stating that the group posed a threat to national security.
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IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had argued that IPOB was not a registered entity in Nigeria and, therefore, could not be legally banned.
However, the court dismissed this argument, stating that even if IPOB was registered in other countries, it could still face legal action in Nigeria.
IPOB contends that Justice Kafarati’s ruling was flawed and that the group’s activities do not meet the legal definition of terrorism.
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They said that IPOB is a non-violent movement advocating for self-determination, in contrast to violent groups such as the Fulani herdsmen, which have not been labeled as terrorists.
The group is seeking to have the proscription order overturned.
The detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has also applied to be joined as an interested party in the case.
