Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has announced his decision to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling that proscribed the group.
On January 29, 2025, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal upheld the Federal High Court’s decision, declaring IPOB a terrorist organization.
Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, called the ruling unfair and said it ignored the Nigerian Constitution and violated IPOB’s right to a fair hearing.
Kanu’s statement clarified that the decision had no immediate impact on his ongoing case, as the Supreme Court will have the final say.
He also warned against labeling him or IPOB as terrorists until a final judgment is reached.
Kanu’s legal team pointed out that the order to proscribe IPOB was made without proper notification or a hearing, raising concerns about procedural errors.
The appeal court, while acknowledging these issues, ruled in favour of national security interests.
Kanu argued that the court’s decision unfairly targets the Igbo people and bypassed necessary legal processes to address national security concerns.
He vowed to challenge the ruling both in Nigerian and international courts.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal decision will hardly have any prejudicial effects on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s main case, because the decision is not final, and we are heading to the Supreme Court, which is – by law – the final arbiter.
“For the time being, it is legally safer and wiser for all and sundry to resist the dangerous temptation of calling Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a terrorist until he is either convicted as one (which is a tall order) or until the Supreme Court finally decides against him (which is highly unlikely).
“In plain terms, the jury is still out on whether IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are terrorists or not. Thus, any individual or entity that seizes this adverse moment to purvey the libel that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB is a terrorist will face epic legal actions that will be prompt, muscular, and scorched-earth in nature”, Ejimakor said.