A group of northern elders have commenced legal process for the secession of Southeast from the Nigerian federation.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021, the plaintiffs led by Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’I, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam are praying the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to compel the National Assembly to hasten the exit of the Southeast before the conclusion of ongoing constitutional amendment.

They averred in their supporting affidavit that their action was informed by the need to stem the tide of violence and destruction allegedly occasioned by the agitation for secession championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB.)

They claim they did not want a repeat of the 1967-1970 civil war that cost the nation millions of lives and property worth billions of naira.

Listed as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.

However, lawyers from the Southeast have applied to the  court to join them as defendants in a suit. 

They are led by Chuks Muoma with other members as Ukpai Ukairo, Ebere Uzoatu and Obi Emuka.

The lawyers are asking for order of the court to allow them join in the suit as representatives of the people of the Southeast.

In their application for joinder filed by Victor Onweremadu, the applicants claimed that the case by northern elders seeking the exit of the South East from Nigeria has the capability to shape the life of the generation of the Igbo.

The motion on notice for the joinder request was brought pursuant to Order 9 rule 5 and order 26 rule 2 of the Federal High Court civil procedure rule 2019.

The lawyers claimed that they had an interest to protect in the suit, hence, their request to be made defendants in the case.

In a 12-paragraph affidavit in support of their application, the lawyers noted that the northern elders in their suit did not think it necessary to join the people of the Southeast or their representatives to enable the court hear from them.

The affidavit deposed to by one Ekenna Felix Jonathan read in part: “That this suit is so crucial and a sensitive matter which concerns the indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria and has the capability to shape the life of the future generation of the people of the Southeast of Nigeria and other indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association represented by the applicants are an indigenous association of lawyers from the Southeast of Nigeria and other indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association and its objective is to represent the interest of the Igbo people which said people are indigenous in the Southeast of Nigeria. Thus, the association is interested and is a necessary party to be joined. That it will serve the interest of justice if the honourable court grants the application and join the applicants as defendants in the suit and that the plaintiffs will not be prejudiced if the application is granted.”

In the main suit, the northern elders prayed the court for the following reliefs: A declaration that, by the combined effect of the provisions of Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and Articles 1, 2, and 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004, the 4th defendant (the National Assembly) is empowered to set in motion a framework for a referendum to allow the Southeastern region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to decide on their bid for self-determination. An order directing the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to provide a framework that will pave way for the self-determination of the Southeastern states so as to leave the geographical entity called Nigeria before any further step is taken to further amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be further amended at any time after the question of self-determination must have been resolved by Nigerians.”

Inyang Eden Ekwo, the judge, has fixed November 1 for hearing of the suit.

Sun