Human rights lawyer Aloy Ejimakor has argued that the 2017 proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was politically motivated rather than driven by genuine national security concerns.
In an opinion piece, Ejimakor said the designation was used to suppress dissent and criminalise political expression among the Igbo population.
He cited multiple international and legal interventions that have challenged Nigeria’s position, including communications from the United Nations Human Rights Council and rulings from Nigerian courts.
According to him, UN Special Rapporteurs in October 2020 urged Nigeria to reconsider the proscription, warning that such measures should not be used to silence legitimate political views or restrict freedoms of association and assembly.
Ejimakor also referenced findings linked to former UN rapporteur Agnes Callamard, which raised concerns about growing intolerance towards minorities.
On the legal front, he pointed to Opinion No. 25/2022 by the UN Human Rights Council, which declared the detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu arbitrary and called for his unconditional release and compensation.
Regionally, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights had earlier, in 2018, urged Nigeria to rescind the terrorist designation and avoid actions that could cause irreparable harm to IPOB members.
Ejimakor further cited a 2023 ruling by the Enugu State High Court, which declared the proscription “illegal, unconstitutional, null and void,” awarding damages and ordering a public apology.
He noted that both the United States and United Kingdom declined to classify IPOB as a terrorist organisation, despite lobbying efforts by Nigeria.
According to him, the UK applied a rigorous legal standard and concluded IPOB did not meet the criteria for proscription, while a 2022 analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations warned such a move could trigger a human rights crisis.
Ejimakor maintained that the continued designation has fuelled arrests, rights violations, and fear, while undermining constitutional protections.
He called for immediate de-proscription, the release of individuals detained solely for IPOB affiliation, and dialogue to address underlying grievances.
