In a landmark ruling, Justice A. O. Onovo of the Enugu State High Court declared the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the South-East Governors’ Forum as illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void. The court’s decision comes after years of legal battles initiated by IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who sought the reversal of the prescription.
Back in 2017, the South-East Governors Forum, led by former Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, had proscribed IPOB activities, leading to the Federal Government listing IPOB as a terror organization shortly thereafter.
Kanu, represented by Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, approached the court, arguing that the proscription was unjust, as IPOB consisted of Nigerian citizens from the Igbo and other eastern ethnic groups, advocating for self-determination.
Kanu requested the court to declare his arrest, detention, and prosecution as illegal, unconstitutional, and a violation of his fundamental rights. He also emphasized that self-determination should not be treated as a crime. Furthermore, he sought compensation of N8 billion for the physical and psychological trauma he endured.
In a historic judgment, Justice Onovo sided with Kanu, deeming the IPOB proscription “unconstitutional and illegal.” The court ordered the defendants to pay N8 billion in damages and issue a public apology through newspaper publications.
Following the verdict, Nnamdi Kanu’s legal counsel, Mr. Ejimakor, expressed gratitude, stating, “We are grateful that justice has prevailed over this matter since 2017. The court has reaffirmed the hopes of the common man in the judiciary. You have saved thousands of lives.”