Former Special Assistance on Digital Communications to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, on Friday taunted the 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his silence as the Appeal Court affirmed the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organization.
Ahmad posted an image of Obi with a cellotape covering his mouth in reaction to the Appeal Court ruling.
On Thursday, the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court affirmed an order by Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, proscribing IPOB and designating it a terrorist organisation.
In its judgment, a three-member panel of the court unanimously agreed with lawyer to the Federal Government, Oyin Koleosho, that the state acted lawfully in proscribing IPOB.
The appellate court panel insisted that IPOB’s activities posed a threat to Nigeria’s continued existence and the security of citizens.
In the lead judgment, Justice Hamma Barka resolved all the issues raised for determination against the appellant – IPOB – and declared the appeal unmeritorious and dismissed it.
Barka faulted the claim by IPOB that the procedure adopted by the Federal Government in proscribing the organization was flawed.
The judge held that the Federal Government fully complied with the provisions of the relevant laws, particularly section 2 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act by adopting the ex-parte proceedings.
