A Lagos activist lawyer, Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, has called on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu to challenge the decision of the Federal High Court which proscribed him and the group.
Recall that an Abuja Federal High Court had on Wednesday declared the activities of IPOB as “acts of terrorism”.
The court gave the ruling, following an application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, asking for the proscription of the group.
Reacting to the ruling, Adegboruwa said the order proscribing IPOB was faulty because the group was not a legal entity before the law.
The activist lawyer argued that the AGF cannot seek legal action against the group because it is non-existent, adding that the court cannot also issue orders against the group as it is “unenforceable.”
In a statement he signed and sent to DAILY POST, Adegboruwa urged President Muhammadu Buhari to follow his advice to the United Nations, UN, General Assembly and “adopt dialogue in the resolution of agitations.”
The statement reads, “The Order of the Federal High Court proscribing IPOB is faulty in law and should be challenged and set aside by all those affected or to be affected by the said order.
“First, there cannot be any legal entity in law known and referred to as IPOB, as such entity does not exist in law.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation cannot competently sue IPOB as a defendant, in any court of law, the same being an entity unknown to law.
“The Court cannot make an order against a non existing entity, such as IPOB. Such order, if and when made, is at large and unenforceable.
“The Supreme Court has stated it times without number that the court cannot proceed against a non juristic person.
“The court, which is a creation of law to interpret the law, cannot competently proscribe what does not exist in the eye of the law.
“If IPOB is registered in Nigeria at all, it can only sue and be sued in the corporate name of its incorporated trustees. The Hon Attorney-General, with all due respect, cannot file or maintain a suit in court against IPOB, in the manner formulated in this case.
“I urge Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and all those concerned to proceed to challenge the competence of the suit itself and the jurisdiction of the court to make the order.
“I verily believe that the federal government should follow the noble advice that General Muhammadu Buhari gave to the United Nations, to adopt dialogue in the resolution of the agitations coming from the South East.”
