• Saraki calls for due process in declaring separatists terror group, Buratai back tracks
• Northern govs embark on peace mission to S’East, S’South
• Wike, Ikpeazu assure of Nigeria’s unity, Aba curfew relaxed

By Olawale Olaleye in Lagos, Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt, Damilola Oyedele, Paul Obi in Abuja, Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto, Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia and Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

In a move to take the heat off the Nigerian Army and ensure that due process is followed, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a presidential proclamation proscribing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the group’s involvement in terrorist activities.

Making this known yesterday, sources in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation informed THISDAY that the president signed the declaration on Sunday before his departure for the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he will be expected to address other world leaders today.

Buhari’s decision to sign the proclamation was a fallout of the sharp criticism that followed the declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian Army at the weekend and the group’s proscription by the South-east governors.

Although the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai yesterday made a half-hearted attempt to deny that the army had declared IPOB a terrorist group, this did not stop the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki from insisting that due process should have been followed before the declaration and proscription by the army and South-east governors respectively.

With the signing of the proclamation by Buhari, a source in the attorney general’s office explained that the presidency had effectively initiated the formal process of proscribing IPOB in accordance with the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.
It also paved the way for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to head to court to give legal backing to the presidential proclamation.

Section 2 (1) of the Terrorism Act states that “where two or more persons associate for the purpose of, or where an organisation engages in: (a) participating or collaborating in an act of terrorism; (b) promoting, encouraging or exhorting others to commit an act of terrorism; or (c) setting up or pursuing acts of terrorism, the judge in chambers may on an application made by the Attorney General, National Security Adviser or Inspector General of Police on the approval of the President, declare any entity to be a proscribed organisation and the notice should be published in the official gazette”.

Sub-section 2 goes further to state: “An order made under sub-section (1) of this section shall be published in the official gazette, in two national newspapers and at such other places as the judge in chambers may determine.”

The sources further added that Buhari was keen on signing the declaration before his departure for New York in order to have the right response in the event that the question over the declaration by the army was posed by other world leaders who have been watching events unfold in Nigeria.

“The issue was extensively debated between Buhari, the AGF and other aides before he left for the UN General Assembly and the president decided to sign the declaration before leaving for New York, so he could say that due process was being followed if the question was raised by other world leaders at the UN,” the sources explained.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/09/19/buhari-takes-heat-off-nigerian-army-signs-proclamation-proscribing-ipob/

Nice move,,,,to the wrong group

That is the way to go...

That stupid dummy director had the audience he needed. Instead of him to sieze the opportunity and initiate d dialogue process.

He was busy living like a god. Everybody bowing to him.

U want to break up and u make enemy of every other person

I watched the f00l telling his audience not to attend a church with a Yoruba GO.

What do you expect from a man who failed in life. Life to him is just an experiment. (Something like let all of us die and start all over)

Instead of visiting all leaders across the Country pushing true federalism and also adding that secession is his preferred option and also making his demands known at every opportunity. He is busy spreading hate speech like a f00l he is.

You did not push for sovereign national conference.you did not allow Governors, Senators and House of Rep members from the region to sign an agreement to protect Ibo's interest or be voted out by ur massive supporters.

Even if you have your Biafra, won't there be diplomatic relations with other neighbouring countries ? Rude arrogant eediot

If you bathed with salt during the Ebola crisis dnt blame the idiots supporting and following Kanu. You are also an idiot. Just that they are the reigning idiots..

Hhh

That serves them well

Okay

Its high time these jobless iPod touts get sense.
Online chest beaters

Wow

Ok

Lolj

Ok, good news

..the Ipob before operation python dance and after. With serious concern from all angle which is a welcome idea one thing is certain the ipob will never remain the sMe again...

its a pity that kanu didn't catch in on d huge followership he had to do things right

his rhetorics, boastful comments and hate speech was his final albatross


the most painful thing is that people who died, died for nothing.

God help us

Its okay

The pronouncement of IPOB as a terrorist group was well calculated by the presidency. Nice one though...

Very good one there.

Igbos are foolish terrorists.

I have one troubling question, let say I have 3 girlfriend and I saw a pant in my room, how will I know who owns the pant so I can return it without compromising my self.

Back dated proscription

IPOB news has actually made Nigerians forget this Govt has not achieved anything

Chest beaters and e- warrior's over to you..

The man knows what he is doing. Fulani herdsmen don't cause havoc through their association like ipob leaders.

Confusion at its peak.

I thought they still have a case in court?or the govt have finally abandoned it.

hope they will also proscribe the people.

I am not understanding

Hmmm...I'm not understanding but buhari should just forgive KANU already because his case is just like a child or foolish adult that decided to test the depth of a river with both feet!...

Master class. This is beautiful. The next is to place the Kanu guy on the same wanted list as Shekau and place a bounty on his head.We must clamp down on ALL terrorists in this country.

K

This happened on Sunday before his trip, meanwhile Saraki had shown his card not knowing that it was not his turn to play.