U.S. District Court Dismisses IPOB's Lawsuit Against Nigerian Security Chiefs

On July 19, 2018, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the case against the Nigerian government and military officials filed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

A copy of the order and Memorandum of decision shows that that the presiding judge entered her judgement granting the defendants motion to dismiss the complaint against all defendants in its entirety. With this decision, and barring any appeals by the plaintiffs, this lawsuit which IPOB members and sympathizers filed in the United States against Nigeria's current and former military and security top brass has therefore been terminated.


It will be recalled that IPOB members sued 16 Nigerian Government officials for alleged complicity in the violation of the human rights of its members in February this year. The case is titled John Doe, et al. v. Tukuru Buratai and 15 Ors (Civil Action No: 17-cv-01033-ESH (USA: DC).

Those sued include the Governors of Abia and Anambra States, Okezie Ikpeazu and Willie Obiano, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai; the Director General of the Department of State Service, Lawal Musa Daura; the then General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru. Others were former Inspector of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and the current Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, M.I. Ibrahim; Kasim Umar Sidi; Issah Maigari Abdullahi; Habila Hosea; Peter Nwagbara; James Oshim Nwafor; Hosea Karma; Bassey Abang; and Johnson Babatunde Kokomo.