Owerri – The Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, has ruled that the inclusion of Mazi Chika Edoziem, Head of Directorate for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Nigeria’s wanted list was illegal and unconstitutional.
Presiding over the case on Thursday, Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo declared that the March 22, 2024, publication by the Ministry of Defence, which labeled Edoziem a “terrorist,” “insurgent,” “kidnapper,” and “violent criminal,” violated his fundamental rights to dignity.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Edoziem against the Hon. Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.
IPOB’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, described the judgment as a “landmark victory” and confirmed that the court awarded ₦500 million in damages to Edoziem for the infringement on his rights.
“The court has ordered an immediate retraction of the defamatory publication and directed the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff to issue a public apology in two national newspapers,” Ejiofor stated.
He further emphasized that Edoziem’s reputation as a peace advocate stood in stark contrast to the allegations, adding that this victory highlights the dangers of unjust profiling.
“Proper profiling methods must be adopted to prevent innocent citizens from being wrongly targeted, while real perpetrators remain at large,” Ejiofor added.
Edoziem was the only individual among those listed in the Ministry’s publication to successfully challenge his inclusion, marking a significant legal win and reinforcing the importance of due process in security matters.
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