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The Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Nigeria and its Spokesman, Mr. Russel Brooks, have been dragged before a federal high court sitting in Abuja over the comments and the stand of the US government on the Indigenous People of Biafra,when it was proscribed by the Nigerian government last month.
The federal government last month secured an ordered of the court proscribing IPOB as a terrorist organisation.
But the US Embassy, through its Spokesman said IPOB is not a terrorist organisation under US laws.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/977/17, dated and filed 11th October,2017, the plaintiff, Nze Charles Ugwu, through his lawyer, Simon Kanshio, Esq., UGWU claimed that Nigerian laws are not inferior to laws of other countries and that the statement by the US Spokesman was to undermine the sovereignty of the Nigerian state which is anchored on its constitution.
He therefore, wants the court to compel the spokesman to withdraw his statement and declare the embassy as a promoter of terrorists activities in line with the Terrorism Act.
The plaintiff asked the court to determine the following questions:
*Whether by a true interpretation of Sections 1, 4 and 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the United Nations Convention on Terrorism the 1st Defendant’s statement endorsing the proscribed terrorist group named Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) does not amount to promoting terrorism in Nigeria?
*Whether the United States of America represented in Nigeria through the 2nd Defendant is no longer obligated to be bound by the United Nation Convention on Terrorism which the United States of America signed and ratified?
*Whether the 3rd Defendant as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation is not duty bound under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 to advise President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to declare the 1st Defendant a persona non grata for supporting the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a proscribed terrorist group, thereby promoting terrorism in Nigeria?
The plaintiff, in an affiidavit in support of the suit said Kanu and his fellow members of IPOB went about his so called freedom agitation in a violent manner which has led to killing of hundreds of persons and destruction of properties worth billions of naira within the last two years, thus necessitating the arrest of Kanu and some of his men.
He said Kanu, who is standing trial and is currently on bail breached all his bail conditions and went about his agitation in a manner that is capable of inciting genocide against Igbos in the Northern part of the Country.
“That I know as a fact that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu established his own Biafra National Guard (BNG) together with Biafra Secret Service (BSS) and was training men to raise arms against the Nigerian State.
“That I am know that recently the Nigerian Army had a clash with some boys trained by Mazi Kanu during the Operation Python Dance II, a routine operation which is usually carried out by the Nigerian Army, leading to the destruction of lives and properties.” He noted
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