IPOB leader cleared of terrorism charges, FG fined N5m
By Jeffrey Agbo
A Federal High Court 1 in Owerri, Imo State, has exonerated Chika Edoziem, Head of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from allegations of terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and violent criminal activities.
Delivering the verdict in Suit No: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024, Justice I.N. Oweibo declared the classification of Edoziem as a wanted person, terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper, and violent criminal by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff as “illegal.”
The court ruled that the inclusion of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s First Edition publication of 2024 as a security threat violated his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity and was therefore unconstitutional.
According to the charge sheet obtained on Thursday, the court ordered the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff to retract their unlawful declaration and issue a public apology in two national newspapers to Mazi Chika Edoziem.
In addition, the court awarded ₦5 million in damages to Edoziem for the infringement of his fundamental rights.
Significantly, Edoziem was the only individual among those named in the controversial notice who successfully contested the publication. He holds the second-highest position within IPOB, directly below the detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement on Thursday, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel for IPOB, praised the court’s “landmark” judgment, which fully cleared Edoziem of all allegations. He described the ruling as both “historic” and “significant,” highlighting its importance in countering unjust profiling and reinforcing the need for due process in security matters.
Ejiofor emphasised that security agencies should prioritise accurate profiling to identify actual offenders instead of targeting innocent citizens. He added, “The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility beyond just the security forces.”
He also expressed gratitude to his legal team and supporters, stating, “I thank Almighty God for His guidance and protection throughout the proceedings. Justice has prevailed.”
