The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, adjourned the hearing of the suit filed by the Coalition of the Northern Group (CNG) calling for a referendum to determine the fate of Biafra and other self-determination agitations until March 30, 2023.
Recall that, in June 2021, the CNG dragged the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation to Court, asking the defendants to stop the ongoing constitutional review exercise and instead, hold a referendum to determine what defines Nigeria and who populates it.
The case was adjourned after the court presided over by Judge Inyang Ekwo could not sit as scheduled.
Counsel for CNG, Barrister Sufiyanu Gambo Idris, while briefing journalists, said, “The case is scheduled for March 30, 2023, although they told us since the court will not sit, but because we were not informed. Any day, I decided to go down to make sure if I take a date, but before I arrive, the date is already scheduled”.
In his statement, the Adviser to the Ibom People’s Movement, Barrister Adesina Oke, said: “We here, have come to know that there is a lawsuit related to the issue of self-determination that the people of the movement have always wanted and we feel that it is the best that must be done is to ensure that we participate in the setting to establish the determination that has been requested.
“The Ibom people, have been there for many years and as one of the ethnic groups with such a history and importance, they can see the effect that the court can have whether their own decision is something that can be given to us or not.
“Why do we join, of course, the application is in court and the court is here to determine joining the movement of Ibom people in the suite that is currently being formed, but we hope that when we add it, we can be like other applications from other ethnic people; we will have a bite of the cherry for this matter pending before the court.
“Many ethical citizens also ask the same question to have a referendum to establish self-determination and have unhindered access to resources.
“You can certainly imagine that there are many resources in the Ibom region, Akwa Ibom which is more than nine million, but few of them are integrated into the Nigerian system, and therefore self-determination determines, and one must be determined, so that people can know how to move about.
“As has been said, there are several instruments that show, internationally and even within the limits of national law, so this is what we want to try in court and see if we can have a law on our side because we are peaceful people and we do not want violence in country, but we have the right to ask for this and we hope that the court will uphold our argument with respect.
On his part, the Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community Coordinator, and a member of the Ibom People’s Movement, the group wants to be joined in the suit, Barrister. Clifford Effiong Thomas stated that the Ibom people who are more than 16 million people and found in Akwa Ibom State especially, Cross River State, Bakasi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and others, are a group of people who like peace and hardworking.
Thomas lamented the current structure of Nigeria which hinders the aspirations of ethnic citizens from realizing their full potential.
He said, “There is no such thing as a useless state in Nigeria. True federalism with the help of states brings the best to Nigeria’s prosperity. The Ibom people have what it takes to operate as independent citizens.
“If Nigeria should exist and continue to be one country, it should be negotiated with mutual respect, where real people, and not politicians should sit, and discuss real issues. We need a brand new Constitution that recognizes the need for self-determination and clauses referendum. Restructuring will help this country.
Meanwhile, a member of the Ibom people’s movement, Edemma Udoh, praised the judicial process that included all ethnic groups, especially the Ibom people.
He said, “The right to self-determination is not something that should be done because it is a hallmark of Nigeria if you look at what is happening in Nigeria. Every election in the country is about ethnicity and religion.