The United Kingdom has liquidated and deregistered the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a registered corporation.
Nnamdi Kanu created IPOB in 2014. Additionally, he organized it as a corporation in the UK.
The Nigerian government has held Kanu, the leader of IPOB and a citizen of the UK, in custody since June 2021, when he was extraordinary extradited to Nigeria from Kenya.
In October, a three-member panel of the appellate court chaired by Justice Hanatu Sankey ruled that when Kanu was brought back into the nation against his will, the Federal Government violated the Terrorism Act and his rights.
Asylum For IPOB : UK Is Part Of Nigeria’s Problem – Arewa Youths Explains
As a result, the court absolved Kanu of the terrorism charge. Kanu was just dismissed, not cleared, according to Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
After warnings, the firm was shut down on September 13, 2022.
“The Registrar of Companies give notice that, unless cause is shown to the contrary, the company will be struck off and dissolved not less than 2 months from the date shown above.
“Upon company’s dissolution, all property and rights vested or held in trust for the company are deemed to be bona vacantia, and will belong to the Crown,” a notice sent to IPOB on June 28, 2022, read.
IPOB, the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, and other Biafran organizations were prohibited by the UK from taking part in its asylum program earlier in the year.
See What Ohanaeze Said About UK Granting Asylum To IPOB, MASSOB Members
The Nigerian government had declared IPOB a terrorist organization, and the British government observed that the group’s paramilitary section, the Eastern Security Network, and its members had allegedly violated human rights.
As a result, the UK argued that those who violate human rights should not be awarded asylum.
In March 2021, the UK Visas and Immigration published new rules for its decision-makers on how to evaluate and approve asylum requests from IPOB members.
In the guidelines titled, ‘Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups,’ the UKVI, a division of the Home Office, directed its decision-makers to consider if a person “who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution.’’
However, in its update published on its website on May 3, titled, ‘Country policy and information note: Separatist groups in the South-East, Nigeria,’ the UKVI said, “IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria and various media articles.
2023: Atiku Reveals How He Will Resolve IPOB Agitations
“MASSOB has been banned but is not a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria. It too has reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities.”
However, the British High Commission in Abuja in a statement denied labelling the group as a terrorist group.
“We are aware of inaccurate reporting circulating in the media and online that the UK Government has added the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the UK’s list of terrorist groups or organisations banned under UK law,” the statement had read.
“These reports are untrue. The ‘Indigenous People of Biafra’ (IPOB) is not a proscribed organisation in the UK.
“The inaccurate reporting relates to the 13 April 2022 publication by the UK Government of a revised Country Policy and Information note (CPIN) on separatist groups in SE Nigeria, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). CPINs provide country of origin information (COI) and analysis of COI for use by UK Government decision-makers handling particular types of protection and human rights claims.
Gunmen Who Attacked Imo INEC Office Are IPOB Members – Police Reveals
“All asylum and human rights claims made in the UK are considered on their individual facts in accordance with our obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights, taking into account relevant background country information and case law.
“The CPIN on separatist groups in the South East, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), provides a general assessment of risks faced by individuals belonging to those groups. These assessments are based on an analysis of publicly available country information obtained from a wide range of reliable sources including media outlets; UK and other governments; local, national and international organisations; and non-government organisations.
“This CPIN also acknowledges that the Nigerian government has proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organisation, some members of IPOB have reportedly used violence against the state and members of the public, and advises that persons who have committed human rights abuses must not be granted protection.”
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.