On Thursday, October 31, Aloy Ejimakor, the lead lawyer for Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), announced that the Appeal Court will issue its judgment regarding IPOB’s designation as a terrorist organization within the next 90 days.
This designation was made six years ago during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. On September 20, 2017, Buhari’s government labeled IPOB a terrorist group for allegedly carrying out and encouraging various acts of violence in the Southeast region of Nigeria.
During the court session held in Abuja, the three-judge panel led by Justice Hamma Barka reserved its judgment after both the Federal Government and IPOB presented their final arguments. IPOB is asking the appellate court to overturn a previous ruling from the late Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, which prohibited its activities in Nigeria back in September 2017.
Reacting to the day’s events, Ejimakor shared on X, “Today, the 6-year quest to reverse the designation of #IPOB as a terror group ended at the Court of Appeal where the appeal was FINALLY heard on the merits, despite a veiled maneuver to force another adjournment. Judgment is expected within the next 90 days, as mandated by law.”
