An indigene of Enugu state, Nze Charles Ugwu has sued the United States Embassy in Nigeria and its spokesman, Russell Brooks before a Federal High Court in Abuja over comments and stand of the US government on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after its proscription.
Ugwu, through his lawyer, Barrister Simon Kanshio, asked the court to determine whether a statement where the spokesman of the embassy allegedly said IPOB is not a terrorist organization under US laws does not amount to promoting terrorism in Nigeria.
He urged the court to declare that Brooks and the embassy representing the United States of America in Nigeria are under absolute obligation to obey Nigerian laws both statutory and judicial so far as they are within the territory of Nigeria irrespective of their personal opinions, perceptions or ideologies.
He also asked the court to give an order compelling them to withdraw their endorsement of IPOB within seven days of delivery of judgment in the case, and also to apologise to the Federal Government of Nigeria in ten national dailies upon delivery of judgment.
In the supporting affidavit, Ugwu, who resides in Kano state, said the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and other members of the group went about their “so called freedom agitation in a violent manner which has led to killing of hundreds of persons and destruction of properties worth billions of naira within the last two years, thus necessitating the arrest of Kanu and some of his men.”
"That the statements of Mazi Kanu who has gone about calling President Muhammadu Buhari names and calling the entire Nigeria a zoo and the people living therein as animals are capable of inciting and provoking genocide against we the Igbos in the Northern part of the country.
"That it was the above irresponsible name calling and provocation from Mazi Kanu and his men of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that provoked the Arewa Youths Forum, who could not bear the insults anymore to issue a quit notice fixing 1st October, 2017 for the Igbos to vacant Northern Nigeria but all thanks to the elders and President Muhammadu Buhari for their prompt intervention and call for calm,” the affidavit read in part.
