60 IPOB Members Remanded In Prison As FG Gazettes Its Ban On Pro-Biafra Group

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, on Monday remanded 60 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at the Afara Federal Prisons in Aba after clashes with the security services in southeast Nigeria.

The magistrate ordered that the IPOB members be remanded in prison after their counsel challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

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The magistrate, who had directed that the case file be transferred to the Department for Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice, later adjourned the case till October 25.

The IPOB members were among those arrested by security agents in Umuahia, Isiala Ngwa and other parts of the state capital during the clash between army and members of the separatist group.

They were arraigned on eight-count charge of conspiracy, terrorism, attempted murder, membership of unlawful society and rioting, among others.

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This is just as the federal government has in its Gazette published the proscription of the secessionist group and declared it a terrorist organization.

The Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati, had, on September 20, issued the proscription order upon an ex parte application by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Justice Kafarati, who heard the AGF’s motion in chambers, had, in addition to directing the Federal Government to gazette the order, ordered it to publish it in two national dailies.

The gazette publication read in part:

“NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that by the Order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/871/2017, dated September 20, 2017 as per the schedule to this Notice, the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria as proscribed, pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention)Act, 2011 (as mended).”

“Consequently, the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the said groups will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (as amended) and liable to prosecution.”

“This Notice shall be cited as the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice, 2017.”

The latest disclosure is coming at a time when the United States government said it does not consider the pro-Biafra group as a terrorist organisation.

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