A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, has declared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organization.

IPOB is a group that is pushing for the secession of the south east from Nigeria and wants the new state named the federal republic of Biafra.

The court also declared illegal all activities of the group in the country, particularly in the South East and South-South regions of the country and restrained “any person or group of persons from participating in any of the group’s activities.”

The Acting Chief Judge of the court, Justice Adamu Kafarati, granted the orders after hearing an ex-parte application filed and argued by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Justice Kafarati, who heard and granted the ex parte motion in chambers, directed the AGF to ensure the publication of the IPOB proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies.

Malami was accompanied to court by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Tayo Apata; Acting Director, Civil Litigation, Mrs. Maimuna Shiru and other lawyers in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The judge declared: “That an order, declaring the activities of the respondent – Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) – in any part of Nigeria especially in the South East and South-South regions of Nigeria amount to acts of terrorism and illegallity, is granted.

“That an order, proscribing the existence of the respondent (IPOB) in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South East and South-South regions of Nigeria either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called and publishing same in the official gazette and two national dailies, is granted.

“That an order, restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the respondent (IPOB) under any other name or platform however called or described, is granted.”