Apex Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has hailed the court’s ruling which struck out a suit filed by a coalition of Northern groups seeking the exodus of Igbos in the South-East out of Nigeria.
Justice lnyang Ekwo of a Federal High court sitting in Abuja had on Tuesday, struck out a suit filed by a group of Politicians and elders due to persistent absence of the plaintiffs.
Reacting over the ruling in a statement on Tuesday evening, Ohanaeze’s factional Secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro, stated that the legal vendetta was intricately woven into the nefarious fulanization agenda hatched by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari’s cabals in collusion with Northern politicians, notably the Northern governors.
Ohanaeze noted that the relentless onslaught faced by Ndigbo during the oppressive reign of Former Buhari’s administration, one of the most egregious atrocities was the state-sponsored litigation aimed at forcibly expelling the people of Southeast from Nigeria and maliciously seizing all their properties, including those in Northern territories such as Abuja.
According to the statement, the sinister plot provided the necessary resources and backing for the COALITION OF NORTHERN GROUPS to clandestinely carry out their malevolent schemes against Ndigbo.
“Simultaneously, the deployment of ruthless Fulani herdsmen to terrorize the unsuspecting populace of the Southeast further compounded the distress, intending to disrupt the tranquil, harmonious, and flourishing fabric of the Southeast region.
“Ndigbo vigilantly observed these provocative actions intensify, culminating in the sponsorship of the legal battle against them by key figures from the Northern elder’s forum and Areas consultative forum.
” The Masquerading behind their proxies, the coalition of Northern groups in the hallowed halls of the Federal High Court in Abuja, under the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021. These Northern conspirators, meticulously overseen by Former President Buhari, aimed to incite unrest in the Southeast, sow seeds of discord, and subject Ndigbo to humiliating subjugation.
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Nothing that the resounding ruling by Justice Ekwo which swiftly dismissed the baseless suit seeking the forced expulsion of Igbos from Nigeria, due to the protracted absence of the plaintiffs to substantiate their claims, stands as a monumental triumph for Ndigbo, both at home and in the diaspora.
It further said that the unequivocal victory signifies the repeated failure of all nefarious schemes concocted by Buhari’s regime against the resilient people of the Southeast, adding that the apex Igbo leadership has diligently monitored the progress of the lawsuit since its inception in 2021 at the behest of the members of the groups.
“Though Ndigbo has withstood the onslaught of state-sponsored terrorism orchestrated by Former President Buhari’s regime aimed at destabilizing the Southeast, the lack of support and resources from Buhari and Northern politicians after the exit from power by Buhari’s regime on 29th May 2023, culminated in the conspicuous absence of the plaintiffs in the suit initiated to coerce the Abuja Federal High Court to rule in their favour for the forced expulsion of Igbos from Nigeria.
“Ndigbo fervently appeals to these Northern factions not to pursue an appeal against the court’s verdict in the interest of national peace and reconciliation, urging for a unified front in fostering harmony and understanding across our beloved nation.