Due Process Not Followed In Declaring IPOB Terrorist Organisation, Says Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Monday declared that the Defence Headquarters’ classification of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation and the proscription of the group by South-East governors did not follow due process.

According to  a statement issued, today, Saraki insisted that both declarations announced last Friday by the military high command and the South-east governors were unconstitutional and can only hold water after due processes have been followed and in accordance with the law.

He expressed optimism 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.”

The Senate President stated that the nation’s body of laws make clear provisions that should be followed before classifying an organisation as a terrorist group, adding that without following due process, such actions are of no effect.

While suing for calm from Nigerians, Saraki charged all citizens to come together and find the right solution to the problem rather than worsening the crisis. This was as he indicated plan by the National Assembly to embark on a “fact-finding mission” to the South-East.

Part of the statement reads, “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.

“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.”

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

The Senate president therefore said: “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.”