President Buhari reportedly signs Proclamation Proscribing IPOB

President Muhammadu Buhari, before leaving the country for the UN General Assembly, had reportedly signed a proclamation proscribing secessionist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

This was made known by sources at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, ThisDay reports.

The signing of the proclamation was reportedly done to take the heat off the Nigerian Army for unconstitutionally declaring the group as a terrorist organization.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had amongst others said the army’s declaration was unconstitutional as it did not follow due process.

The source at the AGF’s office said the signing of the proclamation by the president will initiate the formal process of proscribing IPOB in accordance with the provisions of the Anti-terrorism Act.

The source added that Buhari was insistent on signing the declaration before leaving the country, so that he would have the right response to brief other world leaders in the case where he is questioned.

The source said:

The issue was extensively debated between Buhari, the AGF and other aides before he left for the UN General Assembly and the president decided to sign the declaration before leaving for New York, so he could say that due process was being followed if the question was raised by other world leaders at the UN.