July 15, 2025 | Nigeria — The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strong rebuttal against its continued designation as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, declaring that its 2017 proscription was illegal, unconstitutional, and baseless under both Nigerian and international law.

In a press statement released by its Directorate of Legal Affairs, IPOB dismissed the proscription order as a “fraudulent and unconstitutional ex parte court ruling,” stressing that it was obtained without proper notice, evidence, or fair hearing, all of which are guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the Nigerian Constitution.

“No civilised society proscribes organisations or convicts persons behind their backs,” the statement read, adding that the Nigerian government’s action was a “legal ambush” aimed at silencing the group’s legitimate self-determination demands.

IPOB emphasized that it remains the only group in Nigeria’s history to challenge its proscription up to the Supreme Court, a move it says sets it apart from known terror groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and the Fulani herdsmen militia, none of whom have faced proscription through legal proceedings.

“The Nigerian government has never presented any credible evidence—no arms, no bank transfers, no bomb factories—to prove that IPOB is violent. Instead, it relies on hearsay, press propaganda, and segments of a compromised judiciary,” the group stated.

Citing various legal precedents, including the Supreme Court’s decision in Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee v. Fawehinmi (1985), IPOB reinforced that the right to fair hearing is a cornerstone of justice in every civilized society.

Warning to Media and Public Figures

The statement also issued a stern warning to media organizations and individuals who persist in labeling IPOB as a terrorist group without any valid court conviction. The group vowed to pursue legal action for defamation, revealing that several cases are already pending in courts across Nigeria.

“If you open your mouth to call IPOB a terrorist group, you will be sued,” the statement warned.

Demand for Action

IPOB’s legal arm demanded that:

  • The Nigerian judiciary vacate the 2017 proscription order.

  • Media houses desist from branding IPOB a terrorist organization without judicial backing.

  • The international community take note of what IPOB describes as Nigeria’s misuse of anti-terrorism laws to suppress ethnic groups.

  • Nigerians reject the ongoing erosion of constitutional rights under the guise of national security.

“It is only in a quasi-primitive legal system that you convict or proscribe behind people’s backs. IPOB is law-abiding, resilient, and not a terrorist group,” the statement concluded, invoking the words of Lord Denning on the importance of public confidence in judicial fairness.

The IPOB Directorate of Legal Affairs signed off the release, reaffirming its resolve to clear the group’s name through lawful means, including ongoing litigation efforts at the Supreme Court.