BREAKING:Court Declares IPOB Head Of Directorates Innocent Of Terrorism Accusations

BREAKING:Court Declares IPOB Head Of Directorates Innocent Of Terrorism Accusations The federal high Court at the Imo State, Owerri metropol...

BREAKING:Court Declares IPOB Head Of Directorates Innocent Of Terrorism Accusations

The federal high Court at the Imo State, Owerri metropolis had today, February 20th, 2025 ruled that the terrorism sponsorship accusation levied against the administrative head of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB)movement, Mazi Chika Edoziem by the Nigerian ministry of defense was unlawful and unconstitutional, ordering an apology letter published on two national dailies and compensation sum of 5 million naira from the Nigerian Chief of defense minister. 

This was made known in a press statement issued by the IPOB chief legal counsel, Barr Ifeanyi Ejiofor shortly after the court proceedings. The statement noted that the publication of Mazi Edoziem's name amongst hardened criminals in March 2024 by the Nigerian ministry of defense was held by the court as illegal, unconstitutional and an infringement on the fundamental human rights of the defendant, thus ordering the issuance of public apology and monetary compensation. 

The statement reads,"In a historic ruling today, the Federal High Court No. 1 in Owerri, Imo State, presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo, delivered a landmark judgment in Suit No: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024, Between Mazi Chika Edoziem Vs Hon. Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff, and consequently declared as  illegal, the wrongful designation of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a wanted person, terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper, and violent criminal by the Hon. Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff. 

"This ruling affirms that the March 22, 2024, publication of his name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence's First Edition of 2024, as a security threat, was done in gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity of human person, and as such, unconstitutional."

"His lordship, further directed the Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff to immediately retract the unconstitutional declaration of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a “terrorist”, “insurgent”, “kidnapper”, “violent criminal" and “wanted person”, and to issue an unreserved public apology in two national newspapers to Mazi Chika Edoziem."

"The court awarded ₦5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) in damages to Mazi Chika Edoziem for the infringement of his fundamental right to dignity of human person."

The statement went on to affirm that of all the persons whose names were included in the Nigeria ministry of defense 2024 terrorism index, it is only the IPOB Head of Directorates had been able to successful challenge the accusation in a competent court jurisdiction, and affirmed his innocence against the false accusation levied by the Nigerian Chief Of Defense Staff and the ministry of defense." 

"Notably, among the many names listed in the said Notice, Mazi Chika Edoziem was the only one who successfully challenged this illegal publication or inclusion of his revered name in the offending publication. His global reputation as a peace advocate stands in sharp contrast to the blatant false allegations. This judgment is a strong statement against unjust profiling and underscores the importance of due process in security matters." 

Finally, the statement urged the security agencies of the country to use, deploy measures to profile criminals responsible for crimes and terrorism against citizens, squarely and leave out the innocent from the scheme.

"Security agencies must focus on proper profiling to identify actual criminals rather than targeting innocent citizens. The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility beyond just the security forces."

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