MESSAGE BY: THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA TO ALL BIAFRANS LIVING IN NIGERIA AND IN THE DIASPORA

Fellow Biafrans greetings and salutation to all people of goodwill worldwide.

Introduction:

It has become necessary for the Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra to address the world and nation of Biafra whose children are scattered all over the world since after the Nigeria-Biafra war that ended in the battlefield in 1970. As some of you may be aware, we are in the Court at the moment with the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking to exercise our right to self-determination. Our legal argument as advanced by our formidable legal team is that we are Biafrans by indigenous identity but Nigerians by nationality. This was forced upon us by the British Government and sustained by Nigeria. We are the indigenous people of Biafraland whose maps existed in the ancient map of Africa over five hundred years before Nigeria was created in 1914.

The laws protect the rights of indigenous people to self-determination. We are in court seeking for justice because the Nigerian Government has continued the battle against Biafra in another form through lack of security of lives and property, marginalization, discrimination and hatred resulting in the destruction of our ancestral way of life.

The Council of Elders constitutes the Government of Indigenous People of Biafra under Customary Law. We are the Council of Elders which signed the documents that authorized Bilie Human Rights Initiative to institute action against Nigeria on behalf of the Biafrans. We have been advised by our lawyers that the Customary Law under which the Council of Elders was established as a Government of Indigenous People of Biafra is in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The only limitation is that the Government of Indigenous People of Biafra under Customary Law is not yet sovereign. We remain under the sovereignty of Nigeria until we gain independence.

Directives:

Though we are not yet sovereign, we nonetheless have a legitimate organization under our customary law as a people. That government is led by the Council of Elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra. The law of governance requires the people to be under a legally constituted authority. As declared in the Federal High Court of Owerri, the Council of Elders is the government of indigenous people of Biafra, overseeing, managing and controlling the affairs of indigenous people of Biafra. Pursuant to this role, we hereby give the following directives to all indigenous people of Biafra who are presently in court with the Federal Government of Nigeria in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/102/2012 as represented by Bilie Human Rights Initiative as follows:

1. The Government of Indigenous People of Biafra headed by the Council of Elders is the only leadership organ that speaks for all indigenous people of Biafra who are presently in Court with the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking to exercise their right to self-determination. We have defined in court that the indigenous people of Biafra whom we represent are those inhabiting the South East geopolitical region of Nigeria, parts of the South-South geopolitical region of Nigeria, and parts of the Middle Belt region of Nigeria.

2. All people who identify themselves as Biafrans are required to take directives from the Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra.

3. We give credit to the Federal Government of Nigeria and testify that the Nigerian Government has been cooperative and obedient to the rule of law in the ongoing case. We preach the rule of law and follow due process of law in our struggle for independence.

4. We hereby advise all indigenous people of Biafra to support the struggle of Radio Biafra currently broadcasting from London and to join Bilie Human Rights Initiative as the organization registered both in Nigeria and the United Nations to advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination.

5. We have noted the fears of some Biafran businessmen and investors whose wealth and riches are located outside Biafraland. It is necessary to allay their fears by stating that when independence is achieved, no investments outside the territory of Biafra will be lost. It will be similar to having investments in a foreign country just as some Nigerians have properties in Britain, America and beyond.

6. We condemn in the strongest possible terms, the news that the Nigerian Police and military personnel have often killed Biafran’s who belong to some organizations without legal backing. We advise all pro-Biafra activists to come under the supervision and governance of the Council of Elders. We still recognize and encourage rights to freedom of association. We also advise the Government of Nigeria to refrain from harassing, intimidating or killing Biafra activists. It is important that the principle of an accused person remain innocent until proved guilty is rigorously adhered to at all instances, Nigeria is still a democracy.

7. Finally, we implore that all Biafran’s wherever they are in the world to support the two projects we have at hand. These are the projects run by Radio Biafra and the ongoing Case in the Federal High Court Owerri, Imo State. We ask that you help in ensuring that these two projects do not suffer due to lack of financial support. They are working for the enrichment of the fundamental rights of all of us. I wish you success in all your legitimate endeavors.

Thank you.

Dr. Dozie Ikedife

Deputy Chairman

Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra

Biafra vs Nigeria court ruling update from Owerri Federal High Court 25th June 2013

The much expected ruling by the trial judge today at the federal high court Owerri, by Hon. Justice S.M.Shaub is hinged on two pre-suit cases emanating from the Biafran trial bundle
First is the Technical omission on the case, using Bilie Human Rights Initiative as against "incorporated trustees of" Bilie as a juristic person, since Bilie is a name and not a person in law and on that ground, the trial judge knocked out the case without dismissal, while advising our lead council to quickly make the necessary amendment and return to court.
The second objection raised by the defendant's council earlier was the issue of whether the court has the competence to try a case of the magnitude of self-determination as litigated by Biafra.

In his ruling, the amiable trial judge dismissed the argument from the Nigerian council stating that his court has the locus standi to try the case in question. This translates to the legal fact that the case is in continuation despite the technical knockout and not case dismissal as enumerated above.
At the end of the court proceeding, the indigenous people of Biafra who came in their thousands from all over Nigeria , Biafraland and the Diaspora, attended a world press conference addressed by the vice chairman of the elders council of the indigenous people of Biafra in the person of Dr Dozie Ikedife( MD)Ikenga Nnewi, which was a high point of his earlier world conference in London which harped on the role of the council o9f elders of indigenous people of Biafra as a constituted government under the Nigerian customary law constitution.
The lead lawyer, Emeka A.C.Emeka also addressed the mammoth crowd on the stage and progress so for made in the proceedings with emphasis that evry indigenous person of Biafra has a legal right henceforth to have a personal tag/insignia of Biafra provided it does not create a public nuisance.
He went further to give examples that Biafrans can wear their clothes with the insignia of Biafra and stamp made in Biafra on their products, but cannot go to public places to hang Biafran flags or any action that will infringe on the rights general public ,etc

One of the Biafran formidable council, Chief barrister Debe Ojukwu was unavoidably absent due to the ruling same day in Lagos, on his suit against Ojukwu transport Ltd at the Lagos high court
There was a rousing ovation on the arrival chairman of the elders council of indigenous people of Biafra,HRM,Hon.justice Eze Uzobu ,retired at the conference with two first class royal majesties from Enugu state who are also members of the elders council.
At the office of indigenous people of Biafra, the president of Bilie Human Rights Initiative, Engr Innocent Amadi whose late father will be buried on the 5th of July at Amaulu Mberi in Imo state enjoined Biafrans to be law abiding in other not to attract the contempt of the court. A member of the elders council, Bishop Enyioha also prayed for the Biafrans and told every Biafran where ever they are to observe praying and fasting every last Saturday of the month. The fire brand bishop also promised to resume a monthly prayer crusade for Biafrans worldwide
His addressed was hinged on government of indigenous people of Biafra having been established by the Nigerian constitution. All pro- Biafra groups must now come under the authority of the Council of elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Only limitation is that it's not yet sovereign but we have a government on the ground.. International Law says that we must start our case in our domestic Jurisdiction and if denied justice then we take it to the international courts. It's a steady process but we'll get there. The foundation is being laid. Next hearing will be given very soon.
I must say here that I was personally impressed by the appearance of a young radical lawyer by name , barrister Chijioke Emenalo who robed as a member of Biafran legal team , yes because he is member of different groups on this noble social network .He will be presenting to us ,the technical details of the proceedings here later.

I must also comment here that our lead lawyer, barrister Emeka A.C.Emeka, solicitor of England and Wales, is an intellectual lawyer, whose erudite defense of the days motion of objection by the defendants council gave us a victory of knockout on technical grounds instead of total dismissal of this epoch making case that will let our people out of Egypt, he is indeed a Biafran Moses.
Next court date to be announced in due time. The Struggle has just started•

LONG LIVE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA, LONG LIVE THE MEMBERS OF BIAFRAN ELDERS OF INDIGENOUS COUNCIL WHO ARE STILL BUBBLING WITH LIFE LIKE A GEG OF FRESH PALM WINE AND NOT THEIR COUNTER PARTS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS WHO ARE 'EFULEFUS'

http://radiobiafra.co/news/biafra-vs-nigeria-court-ruling-update-from-owerri-federal-high-court-25th-june-2013

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