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Ihe Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State presided over by Justice I.N. Oweibo, has cleared the Head of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Chika Edoziem, of all charges related to terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and violent criminal activities.
Edoziem, who ranks next to the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was previously declared wanted and listed as a security threat in a government publication.
Delivering judgment in the case between Mazi Chika Edoziem and the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff, Justice Oweibo ruled that Edoziem’s designation as a wanted person, terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper, and violent criminal was illegal and a violation of his fundamental rights.
The court held that the March 22, 2024, publication of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s First Edition of 2024 was done in gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity of the human person, making it unconstitutional.
In the charge sheet, suit no: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024, obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, Justice Oweibo ordered the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff to immediately retract the unconstitutional declaration of Chika Edoziem as a terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper, violent criminal, and wanted person.
He further directed that an unreserved public apology be issued to Edoziem in two national newspapers.
The court also awarded N5m in damages for the infringement of Edoziem’s fundamental right to dignity of the human person.
Among the many names listed in the security threat publication, Edoziem was the only individual who successfully challenged the government’s designation in court.
Reacting to the judgment, IPOB’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, praised the Federal High Court 1 for clearing Chika Edoziem of all accusations.
Ejiofor, in a statement on Thursday, described the ruling as “historic” and “landmark”, emphasising its significance in the fight against unjust profiling.
“Security agencies must focus on proper profiling to identify actual criminals rather than targeting innocent citizens. The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility beyond just the security forces.”
“Justice has prevailed, and we march forward with renewed faith in the rule of law, even as we continue to move forward!”
