Senate President Bukola Saraki says the categorisation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation by the defence headquarters and proscription of the group by south-east governors did not follow due process.

The military and governors from the south-east moved against IPOB on Friday.

In a statement on Monday, Saraki said due processes must be followed in accordance with the law before such declaration can have effect.

The senate president expressed hope that President Muhammadu Buhari would initiate the right process for declaring IPOB a terrorist group, saying this would demonstrate to the world at large that “we are a country that operates by laid down process”.

“I also wish to state that the announcement of the proscription of the group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by governors of the south-east states and the categorisation of the group as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian military is unconstitutional and did not follow due process,” the statement read.

“Our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect.”

Appealing for calm and Nigerians, Saraki called on all Nigerians to come together and find the right solution to the problem rather than worsening the crisis.

“Our brothers and sisters in the south-east, in particular, should continue to maintain peace and tranquillity and go about their lawful business. This crisis will not benefit anybody but would only expose innocent people to unwarranted danger,” it read.

“At this point, Nigerians outside the south-east who have worked to ensure that the crisis does not spread to other parts of the country deserve our commendation. I, therefore, call for continued efforts to sustain peace, unity and stability in all our communities so as to ensure that all residents, no matter their religion, tribe and creed remain protected and safe under the law.

“We must commend the military for their efforts in restoring peace to different parts of the country and sustaining the unity of the country.

“However, in the face of provocation, the military should allow themselves to be guided by their training which emphasises respect for human rights, even in war. Also, giving the nature of this particular situation, the military has every reason to be hesitant in the use of force.”

He said the army should not be over-stretched as there is need to protect the military “against dissipation of their fighting strength”.

The nation’s number three citizen also revealed the plan of the national assembly to embark on a “fact-finding mission” to the south-east.

“I want to also make it clear that the national assembly intends to embark on a fact-finding investigation aimed at determining what actually happened during the period of the military exercise in the south-east. We want to be able to sift the facts from the fiction and determine who did what. It is quite clear that all the facts are not yet known. We assure Nigerians that there will be no cover up. We intend to lay the facts bare.

“We want to remind Nigerians that the reason for embarking on constitution review by the national assembly was to enable us look into issues that are agitating the minds of Nigerians and creating tension among us. We have promised that the exercise would be continuous.

“We intend to keep that promise by further taking decisions that would strengthen and improve on our structures. The eighth national assembly, on resumption, will play its constitutional role by addressing all those issues that are agitating the minds of our people and over which they feel so strong.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki, in a statement he personally signed today, said the proscription and the designation did not follow due process, as stated in the law.

According to the Section 2 (c) of the terrorism prevention act, in 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 an entity to be a proscribed organisation and the notice should be published in official gazette.

PointB:
IPOB: Senate overrides S’East govs, military
— 18th September 2017

…Says declaration of IPOB as terrorist group unconstitutional

The Senate has described the recent proscription ‎of activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by South East governors and designation of the same group as a terrorist organisation by the military as ‘unconstitutional’.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, in a statement he personally signed today, said the proscription and the designation did not follow due process, as stated in the law.

He, however, called for calm and promised that the Senate will investigate the crisis in the region when the upper chamber reconvenes next week.

Details later…


http://sunnewsonline.com/ipob-senate-overrides-seast-govs-military/

SLIDEwaxie:
Where is the override?

But in the real sense, we know that the military cannot declare any group as terrorists until the law does so.

And we know that the SE govnrs cannot ban a group's activities, unless of course, the group is hell bent on causing civil unrest...

iPods, pls, where is Kanu

PointZerom:



Kanu has gone the way of Buhari when Lt. Col. Oscar Ibibibo of the royal brigade army declared operation RAT DANCE in Aso rock.

Blue3k:
Interesting but isn't the court supposed to judge on constitutionality.

IkpuMmiri:
Saraki Is A Comedian!

PointB:
.

In the first place, the Military overreached their mandate by declaring IPOB a terrorist organisation. Secondly, the clueless South-East governor tried to capitalised by proscribing the group and announcing ban of rallies and protest. Directing aggrieved citizen to channel grievances through Ohaneze. And as if the litany of cluesless was not enough, a police commissioner criminalizes the possession of Biafra paraphernalia.

For the avoidance of doubt only the Judiciary has the right to pronounce the IPOB as terror organisation. Yet I doubt if the judiaciary has the power to restrict freedom to protest or agitate. That's where the South East governor got it wrong.

According to the Section 2 (c) of the terrorism prevention act, in 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 an entity to be a proscribed organisation and the notice should be published in official gazette.

giftq:

Saraki is funding IPOB

SLIDEwaxie:
as expected, senseless group...

ekesimo:
The Fight of lies and propagandas against the Igbos

The Nigeria government has waged a serious war against the people of IPOB whose main struggle is for a peaceful Referendum. This peaceful Referendum, they intend to get through peaceful rally, civil disobedience, boycotting of election(yes! boycotting)and other legal means of voicing discontent with a formular that poses to be supportive of a certain set of people.

The Nigerian government has tried all it can do to vindicate this group because they are a real threat to their selfish and marginalized exploitations.With the support of some saboteurs whose greedy beings would never want any imbalance in the status quo, they waged a war against unarmed people. They decided to go about it the rugged way, a way round the book, whatever needs to be done must be done, anything goes...

Operation python dance was initiated to suppress and force them down but unfortunately, it was hijacked by the blood thirsty cabals with the sole evil intent of killing their leader. Suffice it to say that, it is only a tree that will get information of its death and still be immoblie then talk more a man whose one of its basic instinct is self defense.

Their plan has failed woefully, there is confusion and rebuke from people in words and in deed.

In a bid for damage control, they decided to call them Terrorist Group. A proclamation that in itself is unconstitutional, null and void hence, of no effect. But it is still a good thing that at least there are some good men out there.


The war has been declared on a set of people who wants to exercise their right of self-determination as enshrined in the UN Declaration, one which Nigeria is a signatory to. A peaceful referendum that will chart their own course as a nation. It is no longer physicalistic or militaristic but a war of lies and propaganda aimed at painting them black in the eyes of externals, which intends to grease their armoured tanks and machines. But we all still know the truth.

They will not fail to recognize the two-time set of leaders they have. Those who have decided to romance the back of their oppressors at the peril of their own kin because of a paltry they kneel to recieve at Abuja. But they will not relent. The movement is more than a bunch of people, it is more than an ideology, it has come to stay until Glory is achieved.