Sovereignty suit: Court strikes out Nigeria’s objection

The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital,
on Tuesday, struck out the counter motion by the Federal Government
challenging sovereignty suit by the Bilie Human Rights Initiatives
on behalf of the Supreme Council of Elders of the Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Presiding Judge, Justice Louis Alagoa, who struck out the
counter motion of the Federal Government after listening to the
submissions of Prof. Alphonus Dike (SAN), the lead counsel of the
appellants, noted that the defendants have not only refused to
appear in court to argue their motion, but have equally remained
incommunicado.

According Justice Alagoa: “The motion challenging the
Appellants’ locus standi to institute the suit against the Nigeria
Federation is hereby struck out because the defendants since filing
their motion have not deemed it fit to appear in the court and they
have also not given any reason for their non-appearance.

He added that even if the defendants come back that issue would
no longer be entertained and so the hearing on suit would
continue.

It would be recalled that the Bilie Human Rights Initiative had,
in 2013, sued Federal Republic of Nigeria in suit No.
FHC/OW/CS/192/2013 over the sovereignty of Biafra.

The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital,
on Tuesday, struck out the counter motion by the Federal Government
challenging sovereignty suit by the Bilie Human Rights Initiatives
on behalf of the Supreme Council of Elders of the Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Presiding Judge, Justice Louis Alagoa, who struck out the
counter motion of the Federal Government after listening to the
submissions of Prof. Alphonus Dike (SAN), the lead counsel of the
appellants, noted that the defendants have not only refused to
appear in court to argue their motion, but have equally remained
incommunicado.

According Justice Alagoa: “The motion challenging the
Appellants’ locus standi to institute the suit against the Nigeria
Federation is hereby struck out because the defendants since filing
their motion have not deemed it fit to appear in the court and they
have also not given any reason for their non-appearance.

He added that even if the defendants come back that issue would
no longer be entertained and so the hearing on suit would
continue.

It would be recalled that the Bilie Human Rights Initiative had,
in 2013, sued Federal Republic of Nigeria in suit No.
FHC/OW/CS/192/2013 over the sovereignty of Biafra.