INDIGENOUSPeople of Biafra (IPOB) has slammed
an N8.9 billion suit against the Federal
Government for alleged killing of their members
at separate incidences in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Also, the group has signalled intent to drag the
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the IGP to the
International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of
crimes against humanity.IPOB, in an application
filed on behalf of deceased and injured members
by the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation in a
suite no: FHC/ABJ/CS/1035/2015 is demanding
N8.5 billion as damages over the alleged killing
and maiming of pro-Biafra protesters.
Joined as respondents in thesuit are the
President; Attorney General of the Federation;
National Assembly; the COAS, Inspector General
of Police; Commissioners of Police, Imo,
Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta, Bayelsa and
Rivers State Police Command; Commandant
General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence
Corps; and the Director General of the
Department ofState Security (DSS) .
The human rights group, through their lawyer,
broughtthe application on behalf of IPOB and
families of victims of various shootings by
security agencies on October20 and December 2,
in parts of the South East and South South.
In the application, they sought a declaration of
the court condemning as crime against humanity,
the unlawful, cruel, inhuman, brutal and wicked
killing (shooting) of unarmed, non-violent and
peaceful protesters who are exercising their right
to peaceful assembly, freedom of association,
and right to self-determination as guaranteed in
Section 39 and40 of the 1999 Constitution of
Nigeria and Articles I, IV, XIX and XX of the
African Charter on Human Rights (Ratification
and Enforcement) Act, by the combined team of
the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police Force and
other security agencies.They further demanded in
the application: “An order of the court awarding
N100,000,000 to each of those who sustained
gunshot injuries and were grievously injured by a
combined team of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian
Police and other security agencies on October 20
and December 2015 at Onitsha, Anambra State,
and in Owerri, Imo State; Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Rivers
and Delta State respectively.
