The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed disappointment over the absence of Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja from entertaining the matter filled by the pro-Biafra group to contest the recent classification of the group as a terrorists group.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka on Monday, the group said it was not oblivious of the antics of the Federal Government who was working to ensure that the terrorist tag on it was not wiped away.

A press statement signed by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful reads in part: “The Federal Government had formed a dangerous habit of either running away from the law court or using indefinite adjournments to frustrate any trial they know they are going to lose.

“The defendants, including the presiding judge, all stayed away from the same court where they had obtained an exparte order, branding it as a terrorist organisation.

“Nigeria was quick to label IPOB a terror group but could not come before the same court and judge to defend their wild accusations, even when its lawyers came prepared with facts that would have countered those of the Federal Government.”

While regretting that the current trend had made it impossible for the common man to view the law court as a place to obtain justice in Nigeria, IPOB noted that what it was asking for was an opportunity to prove before a court of law that it is not a terrorist organisation.

The statement further read: “It took the Attorney General of Nigeria, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Nigerian Army, South East Governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo less than 30 minutes to obtain their black market ex-parte order proscribing and designating IPOB a terror group.

“Today, at the same Federal High Court Abuja, the same judge in the person Justice Kafarati has ran away from hearing the case he himself fixed for hearing this morning, knowing fully well the world is waiting for the outcome of his considered judgment given that he now has the opportunity to hear from both parties.

“They failed to appear before ECOWAS Court sitting in Abuja in the matter Kanu vs FRN last week. Again today the judge himself has failed to show up in such an important high profile case with global significance in the hope of using adjournment after adjournment to frustrate the only opportunity IPOB has to prove to the world that it is not a terror organisation.

“As usual the Buhari government asked Justice Kafarati to stay away from court today and in its stead leaked the counter affidavit to the motion filed by (Senator Enyinnaya) Abaribe's lawyer demanding the Senator produce Kanu to the public.

“This APC government gimmick of seeking to always divert attention away from topical issues is becoming worrisome. They designed the news headline today in readiness to divert public attention away from the non-appearance of Justice Kafarati in court.”

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