By CHARLES IWUOHA

Ebonyi State government has disclosed that it would appeal the judgement disbanding the activities of the Ebubeagu security outfit in the state.

Ebonyi State government while reacting on the development on Wednesday at a joint press conference by the Commissioner for Information and state Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, the Principal Secretary to Governor David Umahi, Mr Emmanuel Obasi, and the state APC Chairman, Mr Stanley Okoro Emegha, described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, had on Tuesday proscribed Ebubeagu, citing human rights abuses. It added that Ebubeagu, which was established by the state House of Assembly, was illegal and unconstitutional.

The judgement also directed the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to in the state without further delay disarm the outfit.

Orji stated that the Federal High Court judgement had been appealed and that the state will soon get a stay of execution.

According to Orji, “That Federal High Court judgement is a miscarriage of justice brought about by malice on the side of the judge.

“It’s a judicial misapplication and misinterpretation, having regard to the principle of judicial and judicious decision. The judgement of Justice Fatun Riman is a miscarriage of justice that is dead on arrival.”

Meanwhile, over 200 youths who hail from various local government areas of the state have staged a peaceful protest at the front of the old Government House Abakaliki, following the disbandment of the Ebubeagu security outfit by the Federal High Court.

The protesters who were chanting war songs, carried placards which read, “We love Ebubeagu”, “Ebonyi youths stand with Ebubeagu”, “Ebubeagu has come to stay in Ebonyi State”, “Ebubeagu for peace and security of Ebonyi State”, “No security no peace”, among other inscriptions.

The leader of the protesters, Stanley Kamali, said: “We will not accept that judgement that was delivered by Justice Fatun Riman of the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki. Ebubeagu operatives have come to stay because we are comfortable with the security they are providing for us.”

Principal Secretary to Governor Umahi, Mr Emmanuel Obasi, who welcome the protesters on behalf of the state government, assured them of the preparedness of the Governor to follow all legal procedures to ensure that the judgement is quashed.

Update news