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FEDERAL HIGH COURT CLEARS IPOB’S HEAD OF DIRECTORATE FROM NIGERIA’S WANTED LIST – IPOB’s COUNSEL
A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo, on Thursday, declared illegal the inclusion of Mazi Chika Edoziem, the Head of Directorate for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Nigeria’s wanted list.
The ruling came in response to a suit filed by Mazi Chika Edoziem against the Hon. Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.
IPOB’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, revealed the court’s decision in a statement to newsmen in Owerri following the ruling.
“In a historic ruling today, the Federal High Court No. 1 in Owerri, presided over by Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo, delivered a landmark judgment in Suit No: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024. The court declared illegal the wrongful 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,” Ejiofor stated.
He explained that the court ruled that the March 22, 2024, publication of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s First Edition of 2024 was a gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity of the human person and, therefore, unconstitutional.
The court directed the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff to:
Immediately retract the unconstitutional declaration of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a “terrorist,” “insurgent,” “kidnapper,” “violent criminal,” and “wanted person.”
Issue an unreserved public apology to Mazi Chika Edoziem in two national newspapers.
In addition, the court awarded ₦500 million in damages to Edoziem for the infringement on his fundamental rights.
“The court awarded ₦500 million to Mazi Chika Edoziem as compensation for the violation of his fundamental right to dignity of the human person,” Ejiofor confirmed.
Ejiofor highlighted that among the names listed in the Ministry of Defence’s publication, Edoziem was the only one who successfully challenged his inclusion.
“His global reputation as a peace advocate stands in sharp contrast to these blatant false allegations. This judgment is a strong statement against unjust profiling and reinforces the need for due process in security matters,” Ejiofor added.
Ejiofor urged security agencies to adopt proper profiling methods rather than targeting innocent citizens.
“The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires a collective effort beyond the actions of the security forces,” he emphasized.
The ruling marks a significant victory for Mazi Chika Edoziem and reinforces the importance of constitutional protections and due process in handling security-related designations.
