IPOB: Court Declares Terrorist Designation of Chika Edoziem Illegal; Orders Apology and N5 Million Damages
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In a landmark ruling, a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria has declared the designation of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a wanted person, terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper, and violent criminal by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff as illegal.
Chika Edoziem, who serves as the Head of Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), challenged the designation in a suit No. FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024. In its ruling on Thursday, the court not only annulled the designation but also awarded N5 million in damages to Edoziem for the infringement of his fundamental right to dignity of the human person.
His Lordship, Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo, in delivering the judgement, stated that the publication of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s First Edition of 2024 as a security threat was in gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity.
This decision represents a significant victory for both Chika Edoziem and IPOB, which has been contesting the Nigerian government’s labelling of the organization as a terrorist group.
The court further directed the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff to retract the unconstitutional declaration and issue an apology to Edoziem. The apology must be published in two national newspapers.
The Street Reporters Newspaper reports that this ruling underscores the importance of upholding human rights and legal standards in governmental actions and declarations.
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